An experimental study on the piezoresistive and mechanical behavior of carbon nanocomposites subject to high-rate elastic loading

• Published in: Composites science and technology Vol. 198; p. 108285
• Main Authors: Hernandez, J.A., Kedir, Nesredin, Lim, Boon Him, Chen, W., Tallman, T.N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Barking Elsevier Ltd 29.09.2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon black; Carbon fibers; Carbon nanofibers; Carbon nanotubes; Dynamic properties; Elastic waves; Elastodynamics; Electrical measurement; High aspect ratio; High strain rate; Mechanical properties; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposite; Nanocomposites; Nanofibers; Nanotubes; Piezoresistivity; Real time; Sound propagation; Split Hopkinson pressure bars; Stiffness; Stress waves; Wave propagation; Piezoresistivity; Carbon black; High strain rate; Carbon nanotubes; Dynamic properties; Carbon nanofibers; Nanocomposite
• ISSN: 0266-3538; 1879-1050
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2020.108285

The electromechanical response of nanofiller-modified polymers subject to high-rate elastic loading has been little explored. In this paper, we address this gap by studying the piezoresistive response and mechanical properties of epoxy modified by three different kinds of carbon nanofillers when subject to high-rate elastic loading. Specifically, long high aspect-ratio epoxy rods were modified by carbon black, carbon nanofibers, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes and impacted in a split Hopkinson pressure bar. Electrical measurements during this loading reveal that the piezoresistive effect can be used to track elastic wave propagation in real-time, resistivity changes occur at the speed of sound of the nanofiller-modified epoxy, and the piezoresistive effect can be used to monitor stress wave properties. Further, dynamic modulus testing revealed that carbon nanofillers have a positive influence on the dynamic stiffness. These results show that piezoresistivity can be employed to provide real-time insight into the elastodynamics of self-sensing nanocomposites. [Display omitted]