Investigation on sensitivity of a polymer/carbon nanotube composite strain sensor

• Published in: Carbon (New York) Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 680 - 687
• Main Authors: Hu, Ning, Karube, Yoshifumi, Arai, Masahiro, Watanabe, Tomonori, Yan, Cheng, Li, Yuan, Liu, Yaolu, Fukunaga, Hisao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Materials science; Physics; Specific materials; Resistors; Composite materials; Statistical models; Digital simulation; Conductivity; Carbon nanotubes; Polymers; Diameter; Fibers
• ISSN: 0008-6223; 1873-3891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2009.10.012

Extensive numerical simulation and experimental measurements have been conducted to understand the effects of processing parameters and material properties on sensor sensitivity in polymer/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite sensors. The numerical simulation was based on an improved three-dimensional statistical resistor network model incorporating the tunneling effect between the neighbouring nanotubes, and a fiber reorientation model. The behaviors of a sensor subjected to both tensile and compressive strains were investigated. Both numerical and experimental results indicate that a higher tunneling resistance or higher ratio of the tunneling resistance to the total resistance of the sensor leads to a higher sensor sensitivity. Processing conditions and material properties, such as weight fraction, diameter and conductivity of CNTs, curing temperature, mixing rate and barrier height of polymer matrix all play a role in determining the sensor sensitivity.