Electro‐mechanical sensors based on conductive hybrid nanocomposites

Abstract

This work demonstrates the development of electro-mechanical sensors using a generic methodology based on elastomeric conductive nanocomposites. A fast and facile fabrication route is used to construct a unique architecture based on polymerization of aniline in the presence of dissolved styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) tri-block copolymer and carbon nanotubes (CNT), followed by a precipitation-filtration step. The resulting nanocomposites form a segregated network of conductive pathways containing CNT. The percolation threshold calculated for aniline and CNT is 0.8 and 0.2 wt%, respectively. The electro-mechanical sensors have demonstrated a stable and fast dynamic response with a uniform electrical amplitude to the applied strain cycles for two diverse polymer matrices. An accurate dynamic behavior, where the maximum peak of relative electrical resistance coincides with the maximum strain peak, was achieved. The relatively high calculated sensitivity factor (gauge factor) demonstrates that the nanocomposites developed possess good sensing performance. The unique method used for the preparation of SIS/CNT/polyaniline nanocomposites, results in new strain sensors and it can be utilized for evaluation of constructive damage in different composite structures.

Hybrid‐Filler Stretchable Conductive Composites: From Fabrication to Application

“…The organic solvent can be removed by vacuum degassing or heating [7d,10a,11c,65,66] . Another method is to pour the mixed liquid into methanol and precipitate to obtain composites [10b,67] . Compared with direct mixing, composites made by solution mixing generally have better filler dispersion and a wider range of filler content.…”

Ultrasonically Induced Polymerization and Polymer Grafting in the Presence of Carbonaceous Nanoparticles

“…A four-point probe technique showed that the composite displayed high conductivity (~4 S cm −1 ) by forming continuous three-dimensional CNT/PANI networks [31]. They also tested the effectiveness of a three-dimensional segregated conductive SIS/CNT/PANI nanocomposite network as an electro-mechanical strain sensor for two different elastomers: SIS-14% and SIS-22% [32]. The mechanical properties (Young's modulus and stress at break) were much higher with SIS-22% than with SIS-14%.…”

Tensile modulus of polymer/CNT nanocomposites by effective volume fraction of nanoparticles as a function of CNT properties in the network

“…Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are an ideal reinforcement for polymers due to their high aspect ratio and exceptional mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. [1][2][3][4][5] The polymer/CNT nanocomposites show many benefits over conventional composites such as good electrical conductivity at very low filler fraction, high thermal and mechanical performances with light weight and low cost as well as little viscosity for easy processing. The improved electrical properties of polymer/CNT nanocomposites motivate the utilization of these materials in various areas such as electronics, sensors, biomedical devices, aerospace and automotive.…”

“…Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are an ideal reinforcement for polymers due to their high aspect ratio and exceptional mechanical, electrical and thermal properties . The polymer/CNT nanocomposites show many benefits over conventional composites such as good electrical conductivity at very low filler fraction, high thermal and mechanical performances with light weight and low cost as well as little viscosity for easy processing.…”