Effects of Microwave‐Assisted Cross‐Linking on the Creep Resistance and Sensing Accuracy of a Coaxial‐Structured Fiber Strain Sensor. Issue 6 (25th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: On, Seung Yoon; Park, Seong Yeon; Chung, Yong Sik; Kim, Seong Su
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials technologies. Volume 8:Issue 6(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-12-25
• Subjects: core‐shell structured fiber, creep resistance -- fiber strain sensor -- Microwave‐assisted cross‐linking -- ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene; Materials science -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Materials science; Technological innovations; Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1002/admt.202201615
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2365-709X

Abstract

Abstract: Nanocomposites have been widely studied for sensor applications because of their high design flexibility. However, the creep behavior of polymeric materials is a crucial issue of nanocomposite‐based strain sensors in terms of sensing accuracy in high‐temperature environments, which acts as a bottleneck for the use of nanocomposites in embedded type sensors for monitoring the curing reactions and structural health of composite. Herein, we suggest a microwave‐assisted cross‐linking method for enhancing the reliability of polymer‐based coaxial‐structured fiber strain sensors in high temperatures. A dry‐jet wet‐spun ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene core fiber with a microwave post‐treatment in a peroxide bath provided superior strength (2.1 GPa), modulus (69 GPa), and enhanced creep resistance (>94%). By using a creep resistance‐enhanced core fiber, coaxial‐structured fiber strain sensors, which have multi‐layer structured shell parts, could be fabricated via the simple dip‐coating method. The fabricated coaxial‐structured fiber strain sensor showed a high gauge factor (4.12 with strain range of 0%–1%), a low‐temperature sensitivity coefficient (−6.5 × 10 −4 ), and an improved sensing accuracy (<3% error at 80 °C) in high‐temperature environments. From these results, it can be confirmed that the microwave‐assisted cross‐linking method is very promising for use in nanocomposite‐based strain sensors for various application fields. Abstract : Herein, we report a novel method which is microwave‐assisted cross‐linking for enhancing the sensing accuracy of an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) core fiber‐based coaxial‐structured fiber strain sensor under high temperatures by enhancing the creep resistance. Experimental results show significantly improved creep resistance, strain sensitivity, temperature sensitivity, and measurement accuracy in high‐temperature environments.