Processible electrically conducting polyaniline compositions

Claim 1

A fluid-phase processible electrically conductive polymeric composition comprising an admixture of: (a) at least one electrically conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of electrically conducting optionally substituted protonated polyaniline, and a copolymer thereof; (b) at least one aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of substituted aromatic compounds of Formulas (IV) to (X) ##STR15## wherein: each R 1 represents H, --OH, --F, --Cl, --CH 3 or --OCH 3 , wherein one or more of the hydrogen atoms in the --CH 3 or --OCH 3 groups may be substituted by --F or --Cl; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of --H, --OH, alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkylthio, alkylthioalkyl, alkyl amide, alkylamidealkyl, alkyl hydroxy, alkyl carboxyl, having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkylsulfinyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, wherein the alkyl or alkoxy moiety has from 0 to about 20 carbon atoms; or any two R 2 groups together may form an alkylene or alkenylene chain completing a 3 to 7-membered aromatic or alicyclic ring, which ring may optionally include one or more nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen heteroatoms; each Y 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of --OH, --COOH, --COO--Z, --CO--Z, --SO--Z, --SO 2 --Z, SO 2 NH--Z and --OCOO--Z, wherein Z represents an alkyl having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms; each Y 2 is --OH; each W 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of substituents of formulas X 1 , --C(C n H 2n+1 ) (C m H 2m+1 )--X 1 , wherein n and m are integers from 1 to about 20, --COO--X 1 , --CO--X 1 , --OCO--X 1 , --CH 2 --O--X 1 , --O--CH 2 --X 1 , --O--X 1 , --S--X 1 , --SO--X 2 , --SO 2 --X 1 , --SO 2 NH--X 1 , --OCOO--X 1 , cyclohexyl, and 5 or 6 -membered aromatic, heteroalicyclic, heteroaromatic or alicyclic carbon rings; each W 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of substituents of formulas X 1 , --C(C n H 2n+1 ) (C m H 2m+1 )--X 1 , wherein n and m are integers from 1 to about 20, --COO--X 1 , --CO--X 1 , --OCO--X 1 , --O--X 1 , --S--X 1 , --SO--X 1 , --SO 2 --X 1 , --SO 2 NH--X 1 , --OCOO--X 1 , --COO--CH 2 --X 1 , --OCO--CH 2 --X 1 , --CH 2 --COO--X 1 , --CH 2 --OCO--X 1 , --O--C 2 H 4 --O--X 1 , cyclohexyl, and 5 or 6-membered aromatic, heteroalicyclic, heteroaromatic or alicyclic carbon rings and each W 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of substituents of formulas X 1 , --C(C n H 2n+1 ) (C m H 2m+1 )--X 1 , wherein n and m are integers from 1 to about 20, --COO--X 1 , --CO--X 1 , --OCO--X 1 , --O--X 1 , --S--X 1 , --SO--X 1 , --SO 2 --X 1 , --OCOO--X 1 , --CH 2 --X 1 , cyclohexyl, and 5 or 6-membered aromatic, heteroalicyclic, heteroaromatic or alicyclic carbon ring; and each X 1 is a group of formula (X) ##STR16## wherein R 1 and R 2 are as defined above; and (c) at least one surface active additive, wherein said substituted aromatic compound together with said surface active additive is capable of dissolving said electrically conductive polymer during processing.