Pressure-Sensitive Conducting and Antibacterial Materials Obtained by in Situ Dispersion Coating of Macroporous Melamine Sponges with Polypyrrole

Melamine sponges were coated with polypyrrole during the in situ polymerization of pyrrole. The precipitation polymerization was compared with the dispersion mode, that is, with the preparation in the presence of poly­(N-vinylpyrrolidone) and nanosilica as colloidal stabilizers. The coating of sponges during the dispersion polymerization leads to the elimination of the undesired polypyrrole precipitate, improved conductivity, and increased specific surface area. The sponges were tested with respect to their conductivity and as pressure-sensitive conducting materials with antibacterial performance.