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The hierarchical structure and microscale dimensions of carbon nanotube yarns (CNTYs) make them great candidates for the development of integrated sensing applications. The change in the electrical resistance of CNTYs due to mechanical strain, known as piezoresistivity, is the principal mechanism in strain sensing using CNTYs. While the axial tensile properties of CNTYs have been studied widely, studies on the axial piezoresistive response of CNTYS under compression have been limited due to the complexities associated with the nature of the experiments involving subjecting a slender fiber to compression loading in its axial direction. In this study, the piezoresistive response of a single CNTY embedded into a polymeric resin (CNTY monofilament composite) was investigated under axial compression. The results suggest that the CNTY exhibits a strong piezoresistive response in the axial direction with sensitivity or gauge factor values in the order of 0.4–0.5 for CNTY monofilament composites. The piezoresistive response of the CNTY monofilament composites under compression was compared to that under tension and it was observed that the sensitivity appears to be slightly lower under compression. The potential change in sensitivity between the freestanding CNTY and the CNTY monofilament composite under compression is still unknown. Knowing the axial piezoresistive response of the CNTYs under both tension and compression will enable their use in sensing applications where the yarn undergoes compression including those in aerospace and marine structures, and civil or energy infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hierarchical structure and microscale dimensions of carbon nanotube yarns (CNTYs) make them great candidates for the development of integrated sensing applications. The change in the electrical resistance of CNTYs due to mechanical strain, known as piezoresistivity, is the principal mechanism in strain sensing using CNTYs. While the axial tensile properties of CNTYs have been studied widely, studies on the axial piezoresistive response of CNTYS under compression have been limited due to the complexities associated with the nature of the experiments involving subjecting a slender fiber to compression loading in its axial direction. In this study, the piezoresistive response of a single CNTY embedded into a polymeric resin (CNTY monofilament composite) was investigated under axial compression. The results suggest that the CNTY exhibits a strong piezoresistive response in the axial direction with sensitivity or gauge factor values in the order of 0.4–0.5 for CNTY monofilament composites. The piezoresistive response of the CNTY monofilament composites under compression was compared to that under tension and it was observed that the sensitivity appears to be slightly lower under compression. The potential change in sensitivity between the freestanding CNTY and the CNTY monofilament composite under compression is still unknown. Knowing the axial piezoresistive response of the CNTYs under both tension and compression will enable their use in sensing applications where the yarn undergoes compression including those in aerospace and marine structures, and civil or energy infrastructure.

The curing process and thermoresistive response of a single carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) embedded in a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone forming a CNTY monofilament composite were investigated toward potential applications in integrated curing monitoring and temperature sensing. Two RTV silicones of different crosslinking mechanisms, SR1 and SR2 (tin- and platinumcured, respectively), were used to investigate their curing kinetics using the electrical response of the CNTY. It is shown that the relative electrical resistance change of CNTY/SR1 and CNTY/SR2 monofilament composites increased by 3.8% and 3.3%, respectively, after completion of the curing process. The thermoresistive characterization of the CNTY monofilament composites was conducted during heating-cooling ramps ranging from room temperature (RT~25 °C) to 100 °C. The thermoresistive response was nearly linear with a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) at heating and cooling sections for both CNTY/SR1 and CNTY/SR2 monofilament composites. The average TCR value was -8.36 × 10-4 °C-1 for CNTY/SR1 and -7.26 × 10-4 °C-1 for CNTY/SR2. Both monofilament composites showed a negligible negative residual relative electrical resistance change with average values of ~-0.11% for CNTY/SR1 and ~-0.16% for CNTY/SR2 after each cycle. The hysteresis amounted to ~21.85% in CNTY/SR1 and ~29.80% in CNTY/SR2 after each cycle. In addition, the effect of heating rate on the thermoresistive sensitivity of CNTY monofilament composites was investigated and it was shown that it reduces as the heating rate increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The curing process and thermoresistive response of a single carbon nanotube yarn (CNTY) embedded in a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone forming a CNTY monofilament composite were investigated toward potential applications in integrated curing monitoring and temperature sensing. Two RTV silicones of different crosslinking mechanisms, SR1 and SR2 (tin- and platinum-cured, respectively), were used to investigate their curing kinetics using the electrical response of the CNTY. It is shown that the relative electrical resistance change of CNTY/SR1 and CNTY/SR2 monofilament composites increased by 3.8% and 3.3%, respectively, after completion of the curing process. The thermoresistive characterization of the CNTY monofilament composites was conducted during heating–cooling ramps ranging from room temperature (RT~25 °C) to 100 °C. The thermoresistive response was nearly linear with a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) at heating and cooling sections for both CNTY/SR1 and CNTY/SR2 monofilament composites. The average TCR value was −8.36 × 10−4 °C−1 for CNTY/SR1 and −7.26 × 10−4 °C−1 for CNTY/SR2. Both monofilament composites showed a negligible negative residual relative electrical resistance change with average values of ~−0.11% for CNTY/SR1 and ~−0.16% for CNTY/SR2 after each cycle. The hysteresis amounted to ~21.85% in CNTY/SR1 and ~29.80% in CNTY/SR2 after each cycle. In addition, the effect of heating rate on the thermoresistive sensitivity of CNTY monofilament composites was investigated and it was shown that it reduces as the heating rate increases.