Strong linear-piezoresistive-response of carbon nanostructures reinforced hyperelastic polymer nanocomposites. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arif, Muhamad F.; Kumar, S.; Gupta, Tejendra K.; Varadarajan, Kartik M.
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 113(2018)
• Page Start: 141
• Page End: 149
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Nanocomposites -- Piezoresistivity -- Strain sensor -- Electrical conductivity; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2018.07.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

Abstract: Here, we report highly strain-tolerant and sensitive strain sensors based on carbon nanostructures (CNS)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nanocomposites. CNS consist of clusters of aligned multiwall carbon-nanotubes (MWCNT) with high degree of entanglement and wall sharing between nanotubes. The unique features of CNS result in nanocomposites with very low electrical percolation threshold (0.05 wt% CNS), strong linear-piezoresistive-response up to 110% strain, and high sensitivity with gauge factor ranging from 8 to 47. We also present a simple analytical model for predicting resistivity evolution as a function of stretch considering incompressible hyperelastic behavior of CNS/PDMS nanocomposites. CNS/PDMS nanocomposites also show good hysteresis performance and stability up to 100 repetitive stretch/release cycles for 30% maximum strain. Tunable sensitivity and linear piezoresistivity coupled with high stretchability of CNS/PDMS nanocomposites demonstrated here suggest their potential for applications in wearable health and fitness monitoring devices.