Conductive hybrid film from polyaniline and polyurethane–silica

In order to improve the mechanical performance and water resistance of water-borne conducting polyaniline film, conducting polyaniline/polyurethane–silica hybrid film was prepared in aqueous solution employing silanol-terminated polyurethane and methyltriethoxysilane as sol–gel precursors. The hybrid film showed surface resistivity of 108 Ω even though the conducting polyaniline loading was only 10 wt% (or 1.5 wt% of polyaniline), and the mechanical performance as well as water resistance was significantly improved, making it suitable for antistatic application. Therefore, a practical route to water-borne processing of conducting polyaniline is disclosed.