Exploring the Capabilities of a Piezoresistive Graphene-Loaded Waterborne Paint for Discrete Strain and Spatial Sensing

Abstract

The development of a piezoresistive coating produced from dispersing graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) inside a commercial water-based polyurethane paint is presented. The feasibility of its exploitation for realizing highly sensitive discrete strain sensors and to measure spatial strain distribution using linear and two-dimensional depositions was investigated. Firstly, the production process was optimized to achieve the best electromechanical response. The obtained materials were then subjected to different characterizations for structural and functional investigations. Morphological analyses showed a homogenous dispersion of GNPs within the host matrix and an average thickness of about 75 µm of the obtained nanostructured films. By several adhesion tests, it was demonstrated that the presence of the nanostructures inside the paint film lowered the adhesion strength by only 20% in respect to neat paint. Through electrical tests, the percolation curve of the nanomaterial was acquired, showing an effective electrical conductivity ranging from about 10−4 S/m to 3.5 S/m in relation to the different amounts of filler dispersed in the neat paint: in particular, samples with weight fractions of 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5 and 6 wt% of GNPs were produced and characterized. Next, the sensitivity to flexural strain of small piezoresistive sensors deposited by a spray-coating technique on a fiberglass-reinforced epoxy laminate beam was measured: a high gauge factor of 33 was obtained at a maximum strain of 1%. Thus, the sensitivity curve of the piezoresistive material was successively adopted to predict the strain along a multicontact painted strip on the same beam. Finally, for a painted laminate plate subjected to a mechanical flexural load, we demonstrated, through an electrical resistance tomography technique, the feasibility to map the electrical conductivity variations, which are strictly related to the induced strain/stress field. As a further example, we also showed the possibility of using the coating to detect the presence of conducting objects and damage.

Hybrid optimization schemes for solving the piezoresistive inversion problem in self-sensing materials

“…Piezoresistive self-sensing has been leveraged in a plethora of engineering venues including civil [5,6], aerospace [7,8], robotics [9][10][11], and biomedical [12,13]. Additionally, piezoresistivity has been explored in varied material systems including cements [14,15], composites [16], paints and coatings [17,18], thin films and skins [19,20], and even additively manufactured materials [21].…”

Multiclass Level-Set Segmentation of Rust and Coating Damages in Images of Metal Structures

“…All these types of widespread coatings are used in various fields of technology and medicine. In addition, paint coatings are also used as sensors to determine the temperature and coefficient of thermal conductivity [ 11 , 12 ], pressure, and deformations in the studied samples [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Improving the Sensing Properties of Graphene MEMS Pressure Sensor by Low-Temperature Annealing in Atmosphere

“…A number of excellent properties, such as ultrahigh electrical conductivity, carrier mobility, and thermal conductivity, have been found theoretically and experimentally [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], making graphene a promising material for improving the sensitivity, response speed, and thermal conductivity of electronic devices. A great amount of effort has been exerted toward realizing the application of graphene in electronic devices, such as in flexible touch screens [ 11 ], high-frequency transistors [ 12 ], and high-sensitivity sensors [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Studies on graphene microelectromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors have attracted a certain degree of attention [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], as this would be advantageous for the miniaturization and batch production of sensors.…”