Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of imparting electrical conductivity to the surface layer, up to 1 mm deep, of non-porous polymers by impregnation with a conductive polymer, said method comprising: (a) either diffusing a cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, aniline and substituted analogs thereof into said non-porous polymer or codissolving said cyclic monomer and said non-porous polymer in a solvent therefor followed by evaporation of said solvent, and (b) then exposing the impregnated polymer to a solution containing at least one chemical oxidant selected from the group consisting of trivalent iron compounds, tetravalent cerium compounds, hexavalent molybdenum, tungsten or chromium compounds, divalent copper compounds, monovalent silver compounds, nitrites, quinones, peroxides and peracids, said oxidant(s) being capable of reacting with the cyclic monomer to convert it to an electrically conductive polymeric oxidation product within the surface layer of the impregnated polymer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of imparting electrical conductivity to the surface layer, up to 1 mm deep, of non-porous polymers by impregnation with a conductive polymer, said method comprising: (a) either diffusing a cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, aniline and substituted analogs thereof into said non-porous polymer or codissolving said cyclic monomer and said non-porous polymer in a solvent therefor followed by evaporation of said solvent, and (b) then exposing the impregnated polymer to a solution containing at least one chemical oxidant selected from the group consisting of trivalent iron compounds, tetravalent cerium compounds, hexavalent molybdenum, tungsten or chromium compounds, divalent copper compounds, monovalent silver compounds, nitrites, quinones, peroxides and peracids, said oxidant(s) being capable of reacting with the cyclic monomer to convert it to an electrically conductive polymeric oxidation product within the surface layer of the impregnated polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least a catalytic amount of an acid is added with the oxidant to catalyze the oxidative polymerization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cyclic monomer is pyrrole and the oxidant is iron trichloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cyclic monomer is aniline and the oxidant is ammonium persulfate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the host polymer is a member of the group consisting of polyamide, polyvinylchloride, polycarbonate, polyvinylacetate and polyurethane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the host polymer is present as a fiber, fabric, or thin film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrically conductive article formed by the method of claim 1.