Preparation and characterization of Poly(p-Aminophenol) in an acidic medium and Study of Its Kinetics and Thermal stability

Abstract

Conducting polymers are used in many industrial applications due to their important electrical conductivity properties. This study aims to prepare the poly (p-Aminophenol) preparation at laboratory temperature in an acidic medium, in the presence of ammonium pyrosulfate as an oxidant. The resulting polymer was characterized using (FTIR), and it was noted that the (NH) band appeared, which indicates that the polymerization reaction occurred through (NH₂) that is present in (p-Aminophenol). The morphological properties of poly (p-Aminophenol) were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The polymer sample showed a rough surface with particles of microscopic dimensions. The thermal stability of poly (p-Aminophenol) was analyzed using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). It was found to consist of three dissociation steps. The peak temperature at each disintegration step was determined using a Differential Thermogravimetric curve (DTG). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) of the

prepared polymer were performed. It was found that the polymer does not have any melting or glass transition point and disintegrates before melting. A spectroscopic study of the polymer was conducted using a Molecular Absorption Spectrophotometer in the visible field (Vis). It was found that the maximum absorption peak for polymer solutions is located at (λ_max=550nm), and the value of the molecular absorption coefficient was calculated and was equal to (60.7 L.cm^-1.mol^-1). This research also studies the formation kinetics of the polymer. It found that the polymerization reaction of poly (p-Aminophenol) was a first-order reaction and its velocity constant was (1.79x10^-4 Sec^-1).