Polyaniline is a conductive polymer with semiconductor properties that can be configured to conduct across a wide range. It can be easily combined with other polymers and used in a variety of applications, including anti-static packaging, flexible electronic components, and corrosion-resistant treatments. The successful construction of a computer chip in 2000 suggested that it would work in practical applications, and new uses are constantly being discovered.
Polyaniline is part of a family of conductive polymers and has similar properties to some metals. It was discovered as “aniline black” in an organic form as part of melanin, a type of organic polymer, in 1934. Melanin does many things in nature, including protecting the skin by regulating UV exposure through a polyaniline interaction. In a natural form, polyaniline is usually found folded with other polymers. In the late 1990s, it became apparent that it was a flexible and very useful polymer and could be used in applications ranging from smart windows to computer chips.
This polymer is unusual because it is a type of semiconductor. Polyaniline can be configured to conduct across a wide range, from being completely non-conductive for insulation use to highly conductive for other electrical purposes. Like other polymers, it is highly flexible, making it attractive for use in manufacturing. Polyaniline comes in granular form that can be mixed with an organic chemical and painted or sprayed on to a substance to form a smooth coat. It can also be molded into various shapes, as was done in 2000 when it was used to make a computer chip.
Polyaniline is made by polymerizing aniline molecules through a chemical reaction with a substance such as hydrochloric acid. This is usually done by oxidizing the aniline molecules and mixing them slowly. Depending on the desired conductivity of the polyaniline, the resulting polymer will be exposed to other chemicals in a process called doping. Doping leads to a more stable polymer and will also allow it to conduct current uniformly.
There are a variety of applications for polyaniline, which can be easily combined with other polymers to form desired shapes. It is often used in the computer industry where it is incorporated into anti-static packaging, flexible electronic components and in testing to shield against electromagnetic radiation. It also appears in construction applications and is often included in corrosion resistant treatments for various surfaces.
In the 1990s, polyaniline was predicted to change the face of the manufacturing world, enabling the quick and easy construction of electronic components, insulators and a wide range of gadgets and tools for modern society. The successful construction of a computer chip in 2000 suggested that the material would work in practical applications, and new uses are constantly being discovered, with more manufacturers adopting the versatile material every day for a range of applications.
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