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Composites made from multi-walled carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane exhibit an excellent piezoresistivity at elastic limits where strain sensitivity reaches 0.93–0.96 and resistance changes due to stretching and compressing matches with loading histograms. Resistance change becomes pulse-like as the samples are bent and/or twisted, attributed to the rapid increase in intertube spacing. Straining induces movements and segmentations of tube aggregates with tube mobility ranging at 0.1–90 nm/s. Intertube barrier driven sensing mechanism is viscoelasticity related and is therefore interpreted on the basis of spring-dashpot models.

The importance of proper CNT dispersion is still the main challenge in CNTs doped epoxy nanocomposites. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of toroidal stirring-assisted sonic...

This study is focused on the 3D printing by fused filament fabrication (FFF) process of short carbon-fiber-reinforced polyamide (PA) composites. In particular, the effect of short carbon fiber (CF) on the mechanical, electrical and piezoresistivity properties of 3D-printed polyamide (PA) composite parts has been analyzed. In comparison with neat PA, the results revealed that the carbon fibers effectively improved all assessed mechanical properties of PA/CF composites. In particular, in XY build orientation, PA/CF 3D-printed composites exhibited a tensile strength of 96 MPa and a tensile modulus of 7.9 GPa, with an increment of + 34 and + 147%, respectively, when compared to the neat PA. Interlayer strength of 3D-printed PA and PA/CF composites reaches similar values, in the range 26-28 MPa. The impact strength of 3D-printed XY parts was reduced by the presence of CF. However, the fracture toughness of PA/CF composite 3D-printed parts was slightly higher in comparison with that of neat PA. Electrical resistivity of PA/CF 3D-printed parts is gradually decreasing from 1.7 × 104 to 0.7 × 104 Ω cm in the temperature range from − 16 to 100 °C. The piezoresistivity tests revealed that an exponential resistance change occurs for both compression-molded and 3D-printed PA/CF samples once strained in tension. A gauge factor of 3D-printed parts of about 65 ± 5 was determined from cyclic strains in the elastic region.

Pressure measurement with excellent stability and long time durability is highly desired, especially at high temperature and harsh environments. A polymer-derived silicoboron carbonitride (SiBCN) ceramic pressure sensor with excellent stability, accuracy, and repeatability is designed based on the giant piezoresistivity of SiBCN ceramics. The SiBCN ceramic sensor was packaged in a stainless steel case and tested using half Wheatstone bridge with the uniaxial pressure up to 10 MPa. The SiBCN ceramic showed a remarkable piezoresistive effect with the gauge factor (K) as high as 5500. The output voltage of packed SiBCN ceramic sensor changes monotonically and smoothly versus external pressure. The as received SiBCN pressure sensor possesses features of short response time, excellent repeatability, stability, sensitivity, and accuracy. Taking the excellent high temperature thermo-mechanical properties of polymer-derived SiBCN ceramics (e.g., high temperature stability, oxidation/corrosion resistance) into account, SiBCN ceramic sensor has significant potential for pressure measurement at high temperature and harsh environments.

Improving mechanical properties and decreasing costs have significantly increased the use of fiber composites in automotive, aerospace, and civil engineering applications. Structural composites are bonded to traditional metallic materials in a variety of applications, and mechanical fasteners often cannot be used due to the low bearing strength of composites. With the increasing use of adhesives in load-bearing structures, novel techniques are required for monitoring the structural integrity of adhesive joints. Previously, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been added to adhesives and resins to create in-situ sensors, but the increased viscosity and potential for galvanic corrosion remains a challenge. In this research, a piezoresistive carbon nanotube-based sensing layer is embedded in a composite/steel adhesive joint for damage sensing. The use of a thin sensing layer with low-fiber volume fraction enables the use of existing adhesives without causing any major changes in the physical properties of the adhesives or the curing cycle and reduces the chances of galvanic corrosion. Different approaches of using an adhesive layer and a nonconductive fabric are investigated for insulation of the sensing layer. The nonconductive fabric approach for insulating the specimen yields better mechanical properties as the there are no weak interfaces in the adhesive bondline. Additionally, it is more convenient for scaling up for field applications as the adhesive is cured in one stage. The sensing layer can not only be used to detect incipient damage in the joint, but also identify different modes of failure.

Due to their excellent combination of mechanical and physical properties, graphene and its derivatives as reinforcements have been drawing tremendous attention to the development of high-performance and multifunctional cement-based composites. This paper is mainly focused on reviewing existing studies on the three material properties (electrical, piezoresistive and electromagnetic) correlated to the multifunction of graphene reinforced cement composite materials (GRCCMs). Graphene fillers have demonstrated better reinforcing effects on the three material properties involved when compared to the other fillers, such as carbon fiber (CF), carbon nanotube (CNT) and glass fiber (GF). This can be attributed to the large specific surface area of graphene fillers, leading to improved hydration process, microstructures and interactions between the fillers and the cement matrix in the composites. Therefore, studies on using some widely adopted methods/techniques to characterize and investigate the hydration and microstructures of GRCCMs are reviewed and discussed. Since the types of graphene fillers and cement matrices and the preparation methods affect the filler dispersion and material properties, studies on these aspects are also briefly summarized and discussed. Based on the review, some challenges and research gaps for future research are identified. This review is envisaged to provide a comprehensive literature review and more insightful perspectives for research on developing multifunctional GRCCMs.

This study is a systematic attempt to develop a self-sensing fiber-reinforced cemented sand (CS) with high physical, mechanical, durability, and piezoresistivity performances. In this route, different concentrations of Dyneema, glass, and polypropylene (PP) fibers were incorporated into CS containing 0.17% hybrid carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets. The specimens were fabricated using the standard Proctor compaction method and tested at the optimum water content. The mechanical, microstructural, and durability performances of the specimens were evaluated through various types of tests. Further, the piezoresistivity of the specimens was evaluated under compression cyclic loads using the four probes method. The incorporation of 1.0% glass and Dyneema fiber as the optimum percent increased the unconfined compression strength (UCS) (29% and 82%, respectively) and the maximum dry density of the CS; however, reinforcing of the specimens with PP fiber at a concentration in the range of 0.5%-1.5% generally reduced the UCS of the specimens. The pullout test results exhibited a considerable interfacial performance for the Dyneema fiber. The CS reinforced with 1.0% Dyneema and glass fiber demonstrated a lower weight loss after 12 wetting and drying cycles compared to other specimens. The maximum gauge factors were also achieved for Dyneema fiber-reinforced CS. The outcomes of this study, balanced with sustainable issues, contribute to the development of the new era of smart structures, with applications to roller-compacted-concrete dams, rammed earth, and particularly in structural layers in transportation infrastructure., This work was supported by the European CommissionShiff2Rail Program under the project ‘IN2TRACK2–8262 55-H2020-S2RJU-2018/H2020-S2RJU CFM-2018’. It is also partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Engineering Structures (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020, as well as under the R&D Unit Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T).

Adding conductive materials to cement-based composites can lead to pressure-sensitive properties. In this study, different scales of conductive materials were incorporated, including macro-scale steel fibers, micro-scale carbon black powder, and nano-scale graphene. The coupling effect of three scales of materials ensured that the intelligent concrete had improved strength, lower cost, and comparable pressure-sensitive performance. The results show that the strength of intelligent concrete with multi-scale conductive materials is higher than that of the contrast group of ordinary concrete and intelligent concrete when adding nano-scale graphene alone. Especially, the addition of steel fibers significantly improved the crack resistance of the intelligent concrete. In the elastic stage, the resistivity of intelligent concrete of multi-scale conductive materials decreases with the increase in compression, and the decrease range of resistivity is approximately proportional to the external force. After reaching the peak load, the resistivity of the intelligent concrete gradually increases and can illustrate the damage evolution. This study lays a foundation for the application of intelligent concrete in deformation and damage monitoring.

High piezoresistivity of cement-based composites tuned by conductible fillers provides a feasible way to develop self-sensing smart structures and buildings. However, the microstructural mechanisms remain to be properly understood. In the present work, the piezoresistivity of cement mortar with different dosages of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was investigated, and the microstructure was assessed by electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Two surface fractal models were introduced to interpret the MIP data to explore the multi-scale fractal structure of the GNP-modified cement mortars. Results show that the incorporation of GNPs into cement mortar can roughen the fracture surfaces due to the GNPs’ agglomeration. Gauge factor (GF) rises and falls as GNP content increases from 0% to 1% with the optimal piezoresistivity observed at GNP = 0.1% and 0.05%. The GF values of the optimum mortar are over 50 times higher than those of the reference mortar. Fractal dimensions in macro and micro fractal regions change with GNP content. Analysis shows that the fractal dimensions in micro region decrease first and then increase with the increase of GF values. GNPs not only impact the fractal structure of cement mortar, but also alter the tunneling and contact effects that govern the piezoresistivity of composite materials.

Carbon-black nanoparticles (CBN) have been incorporated into cement-based materials for improvement of mechanical or self-sensing properties. There is no previous research focused on the microstructural evaluation of effects of CBN on both parameters. In this work, mortars containing different CBN contents were produced, cured for 28 days, and subjected to electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Tests for determination of compressive strength, modulus of elasticity and piezoresistivity response were developed. SEM indicated that lower CBN contents refined the cementitious matrix, while higher contents increased the volume of voids. XRD and Raman spectroscopy indicated hydration improvements for CBN contents between 0.375% and 3%. The best mechanical improvements were provided by concentrations of CBN up to 3%. CBN contents of 5% and 6% provided the best sensing properties. The optimal concentration was found to be 5% of CBN, since it provided excellent piezoresistivity, without significant mechanical properties loss.

The development of smart materials is a basic prerequisite for the development of new technologies enabling the continuous non-destructive diagnostic analysis of building structures. Within this framework, the piezoresistive behavior of fly ash geopolymer with added carbon black under compression was studied. Prepared cubic specimens were doped with 0.5, 1 and 2% carbon black and embedded with four copper electrodes. In order to obtain a complex characterization during compressive loading, the electrical resistivity, longitudinal strain and acoustic emission were recorded. The samples were tested in two modes: repeated loading under low compressive forces and continuous loading until failure. The results revealed piezoresistivity for all tested mixtures, but the best self-sensing properties were achieved with 0.5% of carbon black admixture. The complex analysis also showed that fly ash geopolymer undergoes permanent deformations and the addition of carbon black changes its character from quasi-brittle to rather ductile. The combination of electrical and acoustic methods enables the monitoring of materials far beyond the working range of a strain gauge.

Graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposite solution was spray coated on a glass fibre reinforced polymer composite (GFRP) beam with different initial electrical resistance (R0). Scotch tape erosion method was used to tailor the R0 of the sensors. Beams and the sensors were characterized by computed tomography (CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. The piezoresistive behaviour of these sensors was evaluated in monotonic, step and cyclic loading conditions. These spray coated sensors offered good sensitivity (38.5 times) as compared to a strain gauge. A gauge factor (GF) of 55±0.5, 70±2, and 77±1 was obtained for R0 of 1, 7 and 21 kΩ GNP layers, respectively. Sensors showed good response and stability under the step and cyclic loading conditions. The ease in the process of application coupled with good sensitivity demonstrates that the GNP/PMMA spray coated sensor can be a potential candidate for the futuristic multi-functional materials for structural health monitoring.

In this study, a self-sensing cementitious stabilized sand (CSS) was developed by the incorporation of hybrid carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) based on the piezoresistivity principle. For this purpose, different concentrations of CNTs and GNPs (1:1) were dispersed into the CSS, and specimens were fabricated using the standard compaction method with optimum moisture. The mechanical and microstructural, durability, and piezoresistivity performances, of CSS were investigated by various tests after 28 days of hydration. The results showed that the incorporation of 0.1%, 0.17%, and 0.24% CNT/GNP into the stabilized sand with 10% cement caused an increase in UCS of about 65%, 31%, and 14%, respectively, compared to plain CSS. An excessive increase in the CNM concentration beyond 0.24% to 0.34% reduced the UCS by around 13%. The addition of 0.1% CNMs as the optimum concentration increased the maximum dry density of the CSS as well as leading to optimum moisture reduction. Reinforcing CSS with the optimum concentration of CNT/GNP improved the hydration rate and durability of the specimens against severe climatic cycles, including freeze–thaw and wetting–drying. The addition of 0.1%, 0.17%, 0.24%, and 0.34% CNMs into the CSS resulted in gauge factors of about 123, 139, 151, and 173, respectively. However, the Raman and X-ray analysis showed the negative impacts of harsh climatic cycles on the electrical properties of the CNT/GNP and sensitivity of nano intruded CSS., This research was funded by European Commission-Shiff2Rail Program under the project “IN2TRACK2–826255-H2020-S2RJU-2018/H2020-S2RJU CFM-2018”. It was also partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Engineering Structures (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020, as well as under the R&D Unit Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T).

This literature review examines the application of carbon fibers and their reinforced plastics for Self-Strain-Sensing structures and gives an up-to-date overview of the existing research. First, relevant basic experimental approaches that can be found in the literature are presented and discussed. Next, we propose to cluster the available articles into 5 categories based on specimen size and ranging from experiments on bare carbon fiber via impregnated fiber rovings to carbon fiber laminates. Each category is analyzed individually and the potential differences between them are discussed based on experimental evidence found in the past. The overview shows, that the choice of carbon fiber and the specific experimental setup both significantly influence the piezoresistive properties measured in Self-Strain-Sensing carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Conclusively, based on the conclusions drawn from the literature review, we propose a small number of measurements that have proven to be important for the analysis of Self-Strain-Sensing carbon fiber structures.

The present review introduces a class of ceramic nanocomposites that contain carbon as disperse phases and exhibit piezoresistive behavior. After a brief introduction in which the piezoresistive effect is described and selected principles for the design of piezoresistive sensing devices are highlighted, various carbon-containing ceramic nanocomposites are presented and discussed in the light of their preparative access as well as their piezoresistive behavior. Emphasis is put on carbon-containing ceramic nanocomposites in which the dispersed carbon phase is generated in situ during a thermal treatment process, which allows tunable carbon contents and crystallinities, along with a highly homogeneous dispersion of the carbon phase in the ceramic matrix. The piezoresistive carbon-containing ceramic nanocomposites presented here are furthermore critically discussed within the context of their potential use as force/strain/pressure sensing materials for applications at ultrahigh temperatures and in hostile environments.

Piezoresistive tactile sensors made using nanocomposite polymeric materials have been shown to possess good flexibility, electrical performance, and sensitivity. However, the sensing performance, especially in the low-pressure range, can be significantly improved by enabling uniform dispersion of the filler material and utilization of effective structural designs that improve the tactile sensing performance. In this study, a novel flexible piezoresistive tactile sensor with a grid-type microstructure was fabricated using polymer composites comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the conductive filler and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the polymeric matrix. The research focused on improving the tactile sensor performance by enabling uniform dispersion of filler material and optimizing sensor design and structure. The doping weight ratio of MWCNTs in PDMS varied from 1 wt% to 10 wt% using the same grid structure-sensing layer (line width, line spacing, and thickness of 1 mm). The sensor with a 7 wt% doping ratio had the most stable performance, with an observed sensitivity of 6.821 kPa−1 in the lower pressure range of 10–20 kPa and 0.029 kPa−1 in the saturation range of 30–200 kPa. Furthermore, the dimensions of the grid structure were optimized and the relationship between grid structure, sensitivity, and sensing range was correlated. The equation between pressure and resistance output was derived to validate the principle of piezoresistance. For the grid structure, dimensions with line width, line spacing, and thickness of 1, 1, and 0.5 mm were shown to have the most stable and improved response. The observed sensitivity was 0.2704 kPa−1 in the lower pressure range of 50–130 kPa and 0.0968 kPa−1 in the saturation range of 140–200 kPa. The piezoresistive response, which was mainly related to the quantum tunneling effect, can be optimized based on the dopant concentration and the grid microstructure. Furthermore, the tactile sensor showed a repeatable response, and the accuracy was not affected by temperature changes in the range of 10 to 40 °C and humidity variations from 50 to 80%. The maximum error fluctuation was about 5.6% with a response delay time of about 1.6 ms when cyclic loading tests were performed under a normal force of 1 N for 10200 cycles. Consequently, the proposed tactile sensor shows practical feasibility for a wide range of wearable technologies and robotic applications such as touch detection and grasping.

Printed and flexible sensors are in the focus of recent efforts to establish the advantages of low-cost manufacturing techniques such as screen printing or inkjet printing for printed electronical applications. Devices based on conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) networks within polymeric matrices such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are already exceeding mere technological demonstrations. Therefore, we investigate the application-oriented behaviour of fully inkjet-printed CNT/PDMS strain sensors under different conditions such as short- and long-term performance. The sensors exhibit a quasi-linear piezoresistive behaviour with vanishing hysteresis to tensile strain. Significant differences in the resistive response between compressive and tensile strain suggest complex re-orientation mechanisms of CNTs inside the matrix. No clear indication for this phenomenon could be observed in the evolution of the CNT network resistance during fatigue measurements within an uncured or cured PDMS matrix, where both scenarios exhibit no visual degradation. However, these measurements over thousands of cycles show different permanent changes in the overall device resistance exhibiting damages but also recovery in the network. Considering these findings facilitates the development of printed sensor devices.

This experimental research investigates the feasibility of using hybrid polyethylene (PE) and steel fibers reinforced cement composite (Hy-FRCC) with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) as strain sensors. Smart construction material presented in the study is a new type of multifunctional cement composite with both structural material and self-sensing functionalities. The effect of MWCNT dosage (1 and 2% by weight of cement) and the magnitude of repeated compressive stress on the strain-detecting function and elastic modulus was studied. The history of applied compressive loading consists of five successive levels (30, 50, 60, 70 and 80% of compressive strength) of stress amplitude to evaluate the repeated strain-sensing ability of Hy-FRCC. Test results revealed that the incorporation of MWCNT within 2% has little effect on the compressive strength of Hy-FRCC at curing ages of 28-day while under repeated compression, MWCNT is effective to decrease the reduction of the elastic modulus in the Hy-FRCC. Piezoresistivity experiments indicated that the change in resistivity of Hy-FRCC-2 (with 2% MWCNT) specimen can simulate the changes in the measured strain during repeated compressive loading at increasing stress amplitudes up to 80% of compressive strength. It is found that the Hy-FRCC-2 mixture proposed in the present study is likely to be used as strain-sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil infrastructures.

In this paper a hybrid combination of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was used for developing cementitious self-sensing composite with high mechanical, microstructural and durability performances. The mixture of these two nanoparticles with different 1D and 2D geometrical shapes can reduce the percolation threshold to a certain amount which can avoid agglomeration formation and also reinforce the microstructure due to percolation and electron quantum tunneling amplification. In this route, different concentrations of CNT + GNP were dispersed by Pluronic F-127 and tributyl phosphate (TBP) with 3 h sonication at 40 °C and incorporated into the cementitious mortar. Mechanical, microstructural, and durability of the reinforced mortar were investigated by various tests in different hydration periods (7, 28, and 90 days). Additionally, the piezoresistivity behavior of specimens was also evaluated by the four-probe method under flexural and compression cyclic loading. Results demonstrated that hybrid CNT + GNP can significantly improve mechanical and microstructural properties of cementitious composite by filler function, bridging cracks, and increasing hydration rate mechanisms. CNT + GNP intruded specimens also showed higher resistance against climatic cycle tests. Generally, the trend of all results demonstrates an optimal concentration of CNT (0.25%) + GNP (0.25%). Furthermore, increasing CNT + GNP concentration leads to sharp changes in electrical resistivity of reinforced specimens under small variation of strain achieving high gauge factor in both flexural and compression loading modes., This research was funded by European Commission-Shiff2Rail Program under the project“IN2TRACK2–826255-H2020-S2RJU-2018/H2020-S2RJU CFM-2018”

International audience; Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/elastomer composites exhibit a piezoresistive behavior, i.e. their resistivity changes when they are subjected to mechanical loading. Thus, these materials can be used as strain or pressure sensors. In this paper, the effect of carbon nanotube weight fraction on the sensitivity and repeatability of the electrical response of multi-walled carbon nanotube/ethylene-propylene-diene monomer composites is investigated, under quasi-static and dynamic compression (using split Hopkinson pressure bars). It was found that multi-walled carbon nanotube weight fraction and the strain rate have a major influence on the piezoresistivity of such composites. Although all samples exhibited a good repeatability of their electrical response under quasi-static cyclic compression, those with a lower multi-walled carbon nanotube weight fraction had a higher sensitivity to strain. An increase in the electrical resistance during compression was observed under both quasi-static and dynamic compression. Reversible movements of multi-walled carbon nanotube in the transverse direction of compression increased the average inter-multi-walled carbon nanotube distance under quasi-static compression, leading to higher values of resistance. After the dynamic tests, the Young's modulus of the composites decreased by about 45% and the electrical resistance increased a hundredfold, indicating damage induced by dynamic loading.

Since the invention of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), the self-sensing capability of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) based nanocomposites has been widely analyzed, whilst Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been studied less extensively. Moreover, brittleness of epoxy based materials made them vulnerable to crack propagation, necessitating the monitoring of crack initiation and propagation. While research activities on strain monitoring of CNT based epoxy subject to tensile and flexural tests are present in the literature, works on the crack growth sensing capability under fracture toughness tests have not been reported. The present paper was therefore aimed to investigate the piezoresistive characteristics of epoxy-based nanocomposite loaded at different SWCNTs contents i.e. 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 wt%, under tensile and mode I fracture toughness tests in order to compare and correlate the developed microstructures, including well-dispersed CNTs and aggregates, with the electromechanical properties of the epoxy based nanocomposites. SEM and FESEM analysis were conducted to investigate the fracture surface morphology and the state of the CNTs dispersions. A uniformly dispersed CNTs as well as proper cohesive bonding were obtained at CNTs content of 0.25 and 0.5 wt% whereas CNTs loading of 0.75 wt% resulted in excessive amount of aggregates accompanied with weak CNTs/epoxy bonding. Tunneling effect between neighboring CNTs was the dominant conductive mechanism, responsible for achieving proper sensitivity. For tensile tests, at a relatively low strain (less than 1%), the highest sensitivity was obtained at a SWCNTs content of 0.25 wt%, however showing a nonlinear trend in normalized resistance versus strain, i.e. the sensitivity increased by increasing strain. In fracture test, the SWCNT-doped materials were found to be capable of detecting damage initiation and extension by showing an abrupt increase in normalized electrical resistance upon the onset of crack growth while the piezo-resistivity before failure was either linear or nonlinear depending on the CNTs loading.

We present finite element simulations to predict the conductivity, elastic response and strain-sensing capability of conductive composites comprising a polymeric matrix and carbon nanotubes. Realistic representative volume elements (RVE) of the microstructure are generated and both constituents are modelled as linear elastic solids, with resistivity independent of strain; the electrical contact between nanotubes is represented by a new element which accounts for quantum tunnelling effects and captures the sensitivity of conductivity to separation. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted and the sensitivity of the predictions to RVE size is explored. Predictions of modulus and conductivity are found in good agreement with published results. The strain-sensing capability of the material is explored for multiaxial strain states.

Supplementary data related to this article can be found at http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.10.057, The electrical and piezoresistive response of hybrid nanocomposites comprising a combination of few-layer thermally reduced graphite oxide (TRGO) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) mixed with natural rubber is reported. The influence of the structure and morphology of the TRGO, and MWCNTs on the electrical and piezoresistive response of these nanocomposites is examined. All composites showed a different nonlinear piezoresistive behavior depending on the nanostructure (or combination) used. The hybrid combination of 2 wt.% TRGOs and 2 wt.% MWCNTs increased the electrical conductivity of the polymer 13 orders of magnitude, change that was not possible to achieve by using only TRGOs. This outcome can be attributed to the formation of a highly interconnected percolation network, and indicates that the morphology of the nanostructure plays a paramount role in the electrical and piezoresistive behavior of the nanocomposite. Platelet-type carbon nanostructures of the graphene family used as fillers for polymer composites may not outperform the electrical behavior of rod-type ones such as MWCNTs, but a tailored combination of both may be beneficial for the development of piezoresistive-based sensors., This research was supported by National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT), Chile projects FONDECYT 1131139, CIAM No. 1200013 and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) e Spain, under project MAT2013- 48107-C3. FA and AM acknowledge support from projects CONACYT No. 220513 and CIAM No. 188089 for their contribution.

Advances in nanotechnology have provided approaches for the fabrication of new composite materials for sensing. Flexible sensors can make up for the shortcomings of traditional strain sensors in monitoring the surface strain and cracks of concrete structures. Using reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as a conductive filler, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as a dispersant and structural skeleton, and waterborne epoxy (WEP) as a polymer matrix, a flexible composite material with piezoresistive effect was prepared by the solution blending and solvent evaporation method. The mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical properties of the composite were investigated. The results show that CNF can significantly improve the dispersion of RGO in the WEP matrix and help to form stable reinforcing and conductive networks, leading to great changes in the mechanical properties and resistivity of the composite. The composite film can withstand large deformations (&gt, 55% strain), and the resistance change rate demonstrates a high sensitivity to mechanical strain with a gauge factor of 34&ndash, 71. Within a 4% strain range, the piezoresistive property of the composite is stable with good linearity and repeatability. The performance of the flexible film sensor made of the composite is tested and it can monitor the strain and crack of the concrete surface well.

To develop highly sensitive flexible pressure sensors, the mechanical and piezoresistive properties of conductive thermoplastic materials produced via additive manufacturing technology were investigated. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is flexible and pliable, were used to form filaments. Specimens of the MWCNT/TPU composite with various MWCNT concentrations were printed using fused deposition modelling. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted, while the mechanical and piezoresistive properties of the MWCNT/TPU composites were measured. To predict the piezoresistive behaviour of the composites, a microscale 3D resistance network model was developed. In addition, a continuum piezoresistive model was proposed for large-scale simulations.

Mechanical strain sensing is ubiquitous, found in applications such as heart rate monitoring, analysis of body part motion, vibration of machines, dilatation in buildings and large infrastructure, and so forth. Piezoresistive materials and sensors based on those offer versatile and robust solutions to measure strains and displacements and can be implemented even in acceleration and pressure analyses. In this paper, we overview the most prominent piezoresistive materials, and present a case study on carbon foams as well as on their hierarchical hybrid structures with carbon nanotubes/nanofibers. Our results show highly non-linear electrical resistance and mechanical stress dependence on uniaxial strain in both types of materials up to 50% compression. The Young’s moduli increase with compressive strain between 1–65 and 0.1–92 kPa for the foam and hierarchical structure, respectively. The foams have giant gauge factors (up to −1000) with large differential gauge factors (on the scale of −10) and differential pressure sensitivity of 0.016 Pa⁻¹ (at 10% strain) making them suitable for detecting both small and large displacements with excellent accuracy of electrical readout as we demonstrate in detecting building wall displacement as well as in monitoring heart rate and flexing of fingers.

Electrically conductive and flexible thermoplastic polyurethane/graphene (TPU/GE) porous structures were successfully fabricated by selective laser sintering (SLS) technique starting from graphene (GE)-wrapped thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powders. Several 3D mathematically defined architectures, with porosities from 20% to 80%, were designed by using triply periodic minimal surfaces (TMPS) equations corresponding to Schwarz (S), Diamond (D), and Gyroid (G) unit cells. The resulting three-dimensional porous structures exhibit an effective conductive network due to the segregation of graphene nanoplatelets previously assembled onto the TPU powder surface. GE nanoplatelets improve the thermal stability of the TPU matrix, also increasing its glass transition temperature. Moreover, the porous structures realized by S geometry display higher elastic modulus values in comparison to D and G-based structures. Upon cyclic compression tests, all porous structures exhibit a robust negative piezoresistive behavior, regardless of their porosity and geometry, with outstanding strain sensitivity. Gauge factor (GF) values of 12.4 at 8% strain are achieved for S structures at 40 and 60% porosity, and GF values up to 60 are obtained for deformation extents lower than 5%. Thermal conductivity of the TPU/GE structures significantly decreases with increasing porosity, while the effect of the structure architecture is less relevant. The TPU/GE porous structures herein reported hold great potential as flexible, highly sensitive, and stable strain sensors in wearable or implantable devices, as well as dielectric elastomer actuators.

Polymer-based composites reinforced with nanocarbonaceous materials can be tailored for functional applications. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNT) or graphene with different filler contents have been developed as potential piezoresistive materials. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites depend on the PVDF matrix, filler type, and filler content. PVDF 6010 is a relatively more ductile material, whereas PVDF-HFP (hexafluropropylene) shows larger maximum strain near 300% strain for composites with CNT, 10 times higher than the pristine polymer. This behavior is similar for all composites reinforced with CNT. On the other hand, reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/PVDF composites decrease the maximum strain compared to neat PVDF. It is shown that the use of different PVDF copolymers does not influence the electrical properties of the composites. On the other hand, CNT as filler leads to composites with percolation threshold around 0.5 wt.%, whereas rGO nanocomposites show percolation threshold at &asymp, 2 wt.%. Both nanocomposites present excellent linearity between applied pressure and resistance variation, with pressure sensibility (PS) decreasing with applied pressure, from PS &asymp, 1.1 to 0.2 MPa&minus, 1. A proof of concept demonstration is presented, showing the suitability of the materials for industrial pressure sensing applications.

Flexible composites as sensors are applied under a small voltage, but the effect of the external electrical field on the resistance is always ignored and unexplored by current research. Herein, we investigate the electrical resistance relaxation of anisotropic composites when they are subjected to an external electric field. The anisotropic composites were 3D-printed based on carbon-fiber-filled silicon rubber. Constant DC voltages were applied to the composites, and the output electrical current increased with time, namely the electrical resistance relax with time. The deflection and migration of carbon fibers are dominantly responsible for the resistance relaxation, and the angle’s evolution of a carbon fiber, under the application and removal of the electrical field, was well observed. The other factor hindering the resistance relaxation is the increased temperature originating from the Joule heating effect. This work provides a new understanding in the working duration and the static characteristics of flexible composites.

The development of a 3D-Printed Load Cell (PLC) was studied using a nanocarbon composite strain sensor (NCSS) and a 3D printing process. The miniature load cell was fabricated using a low-cost LCD-based 3D printer with UV resin. The NCSS composed of 0.5 wt% MWCNT/epoxy was used to create the flexure of PLC. PLC performance was evaluated under a rated load range; its output was equal to the common value of 2 mV/V. The performance was also evaluated after a calibration in terms of non-linearity, repeatability, and hysteresis, with final results of 2.12%, 1.60%, and 4.42%, respectively. Creep and creep recovery were found to be 1.68 (%FS) and 4.16 (%FS). The relative inferiorities of PLC seem to originate from the inherent hyper-elastic characteristics of polymer sensors. The 3D PLC developed may be a promising solution for the OEM/design-in load cell market and may also result in the development of a novel 3D-printed sensor.

Structured elastomeric composites (SECs) with electrically conductive fillers display anisotropic piezoresistivity. The fillers do not form string-of-particle structures but pseudo-chains formed by grouping micro-sized clusters containing nanomagnetic particles surrounded by noble metals (e.g. silver, Ag). The pseudo-chains are formed when curing or preparing the composite in the presence of a uniform magnetic field, thus pseudo-chains are aligned in the direction of the field. The electrical conduction through pseudo-chains is analyzed and a constitutive model for the anisotropic reversible piezoresistivity in SECs is proposed. Several effects and characteristics, such as electron tunnelling, conduction inside the pseudo-chains, and chain-contact resistivity, are included in the model. Experimental results of electrical resistance, R, as a function of the normal stress applied in the direction of the pseudo-chains, P, are very well fitted by the model in the case of Fe3O4[Ag] microparticles magnetically aligned while curing in polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS. The cross sensitivity of different parameters (like the potential barrier and the effective distance for electron tunnelling) is evaluated. The model predicts the presence of several gaps for electron tunnelling inside the pseudo-chains. Estimates of those parameters for the mentioned experimental system under strains up to 20% are presented. Simulations of the expected response for other systems are performed showing the influence of Young's modulus and other parameters on the predicted piezoresistivity. Fil: Mietta, José Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina Fil: Tamborenea, Pablo Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Negri, Ricardo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química, Física de los Materiales, Medioambiente y Energía; Argentina

Many studies were performed to improve CNT dispersion into epoxy using different mechanical dispersion methods as well as CNT functionalization. In this study, a novel method is introduced to enhance CNT dispersion using 2D nanoclay as a secondary filler. Hence, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of nanoclay platelets on electrical, mechanical, and piezoresistive characteristics of the SWCNTs doped epoxy nanocomposites. Two different types of nanocomposites were prepared for comparison including binary (SWCNT/epoxy) and hybrid (SWCNT-nanoclay/epoxy) states. CNT content of 0.1 wt% was used for the binary and hybrid states while two different nanoclay loadings (0.5 wt% and 1.0 wt%) were employed in the hybrid nanocomposites. Tensile and mode I fracture tests were performed for the mechanical and electromechanical characterization using two probe techniques while electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for microstructural analysis. Results showed severe CNT agglomeration in the binary state whilst a homogenous CNT dispersion was achieved in the ternary states. The binary nanocomposite showed weak performance in terms of electrical, mechanical and piezoresistive properties caused by severe CNT aggregates. On the other hand, addition of nanoclay into CNTs doped epoxy manifested a significant increase in the electrical, mechanical and piezoresistive-sensitivity performance of the hybrid nanocomposites compared to the binary one. The best performance was achieved at 0.5 wt% nanoclay loading where electrical conductivity increased by six orders of magnitude, UTS increased by 37%, KIC and GIC increased by 34% and 64%, respectively, with respect to the binary nanocomposite. Crack-pinning and crack deflection were accounted for the fracture toughness increase in ternary composites. Nonlinear piezoresistivity resulting from the predominate effect of tunneling resistance ruled piezoresistivity in the hybrid nanocomposites. A sensitivity of 2.1 and 2.0 at strain of 0.01 were obtained for 0.5 wt% and 1.0 wt% nanoclay contents, respectively, whereas no sensitivity was achieved for the binary composite.

Elastomer-based porous structures realized by selective laser sintering (SLS) are emerging as a new class of attractive multifunctional materials. Herein, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powder for SLS was modified by 1 wt.% multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) or a mixture of MWCNTs and graphene (GE) nanoparticles (70/30 wt/wt) in order to investigate on both the synergistic effect provided by the two conductive nanostructured carbonaceous fillers and the correlation between formulation, morphology, and final properties of SLS printed porous structures. In detail, porous structures with a porosity ranging from 20% to 60% were designed using Diamond (D) and Gyroid (G) unit cells. Results showed that the carbonaceous fillers improve the thermal stability of the elastomeric matrix. Furthermore, the TPU/1 wt.% MWCNTs-GE-based porous structures exhibit excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. In particular, all porous structures exhibit a robust negative piezoresistive behavior, as demonstrated from the gauge factor (GF) values that reach values of about &minus, 13 at 8% strain. Furthermore, the G20 porous structures (20% of porosity) exhibit microwave absorption coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.91 in the 12&ndash, 18 GHz region and close to 1 at THz frequencies (300 GHz&ndash, 1 THz). Results show that the simultaneous presence of MWCNTs and GE brings a significant enhancement of specific functional properties of the porous structures, which are proposed as potential actuators with relevant electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties.

Electrically conductive, polymeric materials that maintain their conductivity even when under significant mechanical deformation are needed for actuator electrodes, conformable electromagnetic shielding, stretchable tactile sensors and flexible energy storage. The challenge for these materials is that the percolated, electrically conductive networks tend to separate even at low strains, leading to significant piezoresistance. Herein, deformable conductors were fabricated by spray-coating a nitrile substrate with a graphene-elastomer solution. The coatings showed only slight increase in electrical resistance after thousands of bending cycles and repeated folding-unfolding events. The deformable conductors doubled their electrical resistance at 12% strain and were washable without changing their electrical properties. The conductivity-strain behaviour was modelled by considering the nanofiller separation upon deformation. To boost the conductivity at higher strains, the production process was adapted by stretching the nitrile substrate before spraying, after which it was released. This adaption meant that the electrical resistance doubled at 25 % strain. The electrical resistance was found sufficiently low to give a 1.9 dB/{\mu}m shielding in the 8-12 GHz electromagnetic band. The physical and electrical properties, including the EM screening, of the flexible conductors, were found to deteriorate upon cycling but could be recovered through reheating the coating., Comment: 29 pages, 6 figures

This work aims to investigate piezoresistive behavior in plain-woven carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Measurement method for electric resistant alteration in the woven CFRP under tensile loading by using a Wheatstone bridge circuit is introduced. Reversibility of the resistant alteration is also investigated whereas the gauge factor of the woven CFRP is evaluated. The result shows that the positive piezoresistive properties of the woven CFRP can be observed by the Wheatstone bridge circuit. The specific resistances of 43.8 &mu, Ωm and 10.1 &mu, Ωm are obtained for wrap and thickness directions, respectively. Reversibility with a hysteresis of the woven CFRP can also be confirmed with the gauge factor of 22.9 at loading conditions and 17.7 at unloading conditions. Positive piezoresistive behavior which has been revealed in this work can be utilized for structural health monitoring technology development.

Fabricating complex sensor platforms is still a challenge because conventional sensors are discrete, directional, and often not integrated within the system at the material level. Here, we report a facile method to fabricate bidirectional strain sensors through the integration of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and multimaterial additive manufacturing. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/MWCNT filaments were first made using a two-step extrusion process. TPU as the platform and TPU/MWCNT as the conducting traces were then 3D printed in tandem using multimaterial fused filament fabrication to generate uniaxial and biaxial sensors with several conductive pattern designs. The sensors were subjected to a series of cyclic strain loads. The results revealed excellent piezoresistive responses with cyclic repeatability in both the axial and transverse directions and in response to strains as high as 50%. It was shown that the directional sensitivity could be tailored by the type of pattern design. A wearable glove, with built-in sensors, capable of measuring finger flexure was also successfully demonstrated where the sensors are an integral part of the system. These sensors have potential applications in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and prosthetics, where complex design, multi-directionality, embedding, and customizability are demanded.

Low-cost piezoresistive strain/pressure sensors with large working range, at the same time able to reliably detect ultralow strain (

In this study, we investigate the changes of electrical resistance of the carbon black (CB) and carbon nanotube (CNT) filled epoxy composites upon compression, swelling and temperature variation. For all samples we observe a decrease of electrical resistance under compression, while an increase of electrical resistance is found upon swelling due to water absorption. With the same volumetric change, the CB/epoxy composites have a more pronounced change of electrical resistance than the CNT/epoxy composites. The influence of temperature variations on the overall electrical resistance is somewhat more complex. At low temperatures, electrical resistance clearly decreases with increasing temperature, mainly owing to the thermal fluctuation induced tunneling conduction mechanism. At high temperatures, electrical resistance decreases much slower and may even increase due to a more prominent thermal expansion effect. The thermal expansion of the epoxy matrix leads to a decrease of tunneling conduction. Without the contribution of the thermal expansion, the sensitivity and linearity of electrical resistance change upon temperature variations is higher. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The concept of lightweight design is widely employed for designing and constructing aerospace structures that can sustain extreme loads while also being fuel-efficient. Popular lightweight materials such as aluminum alloy and fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) possess outstanding mechanical properties, but their structural integrity requires constant assessment to ensure structural safety. Next-generation structural health monitoring systems for aerospace structures should be lightweight and integrated with the structure itself. In this study, a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-based polymer paint was developed to detect distributed damage in lightweight structures. The thin film's electromechanical properties were characterized via cyclic loading tests. Moreover, the thin film's bulk conductivity was characterized by finite element modeling.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns are fiber-like materials that exhibit excellent mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. More importantly, they exhibit a piezoresistive response that can be tapped for sensing purposes. The objective of this study is to determine experimentally the piezoresistive response of CNT yarns that are embedded in a polymeric medium while subjected to either tension or compression, and compare it with that of the free or unconstrained CNT yarns. The rationale is the need to know the piezoresistive response of the CNT yarn while in a medium, which provides a lateral constraint to the CNT yarn, thus mimicking the response of integrated CNT yarn sensors. The experimental program includes the fabrication of samples and their electromechanical characterization. The CNT yarns are integrated in polymeric beams and subjected to four-point bending, allowing the determination of their response under tension and compression. The electromechanical data from a combined Inductance–Capacitance–Resistance (LCR) device and a mechanical testing system were used to determine the piezoresistive response of the CNT yarns. At a strain rate of 0.006 min−1, the gauge factor obtained under tension for a maximum strain of 0.1% is ~29.3 which is higher than ~21.2 obtained under compression. The CNT yarn sensor exhibited strain rate dependence with a gauge factor of approximately 23.0 at 0.006 min−1, in comparison to 19.0 and 1.3, which were obtained at 0.0005 min−1 and 0.003 min−1, respectively. There is a difference of up to two orders of magnitude in the sensitivity of the constrained CNT yarn under bending with respect to that of the free CNT yarn under uniaxial tension. However, the difference becomes smaller when the constrained CNT yarn was tested under uniaxial tension. This data and information will be used for future modeling efforts and to study the phenomena that occur when CNT yarns are integrated in polymeric and composite materials and structures.

Highly flexible and deformable electrically conductive materials are vital for the emerging field of wearable electronics. To address the challenge of flexible materials with a relatively high electrical conductivity and a high elastic limit, we report a new and facile method to prepare porous polydimethylsiloxane/carbon nanofiber composites (denoted by p-PDMS/CNF). This method involves using sugar particles coated with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as the templates. The resulting three-dimensional porous nanocomposites, with the CNFs embedded in the PDMS pore walls, exhibit a greatly increased failure strain (up to ∼94%) compared to that of the solid, neat PDMS (∼48%). The piezoresistive response observed under cyclic tension indicates that the unique microstructure provides the new nanocomposites with excellent durability. The electrical conductivity and the gauge factor of this new nanocomposite can be tuned by changing the content of the CNFs. The electrical conductivity increases, while the gauge factor decreases, upon increasing the content of CNFs. The gauge factor of the newly developed sensors can be adjusted from approximately 1.0 to 6.5, and the nanocomposites show stable piezoresistive performance with fast response time and good linearity in ln(R/R0) versus ln(L/L0) up to ∼70% strain. The tunable sensitivity and conductivity endow these highly stretchable nanocomposites with considerable potential for use as flexible strain sensors for monitoring the movement of human joints (where a relatively high gauge factor is needed) and also as flexible conductors for wearable electronics (where a relatively low gauge factor is required).

Piezoelements used in robotics require large elasticity and extensibility to be installed in an artificial robot skin. However, the piezoelements used until recently are vulnerable to large forces because of the thin solid materials employed. To resolve this issue, we utilized a natural rubber and applied our proposed new method of aiding with magnetic and electric fields as well as filling with magnetic compound fluid (MCF) and doping. We have verified the piezoproperties of the resulting MCF rubber. The effect of the created magnetic clusters is featured in a new two types of multilayered structures of the piezoelement. By measuring the piezoelectricity response to pressure, the synergetic effects of the magnetic clusters, the doping and the electric polymerization on the piezoelectric effect were clarified. In addition, by examining the relation between the piezoelectricity and the piezoresistivity created in the MCF piezo element, we propose a hybrid piezoelement.

The large expansion of the robotic field in the last decades has created a growing interest in the research and development of tactile sensing solutions for robot hand and body integration. Piezoresistive composites are one of the most widely employed materials for this purpose, combining simple and low cost preparation with high flexibility and conformability to surfaces, low power consumption, and the use of simple read-out electronics. This work provides a review on the different type of composite materials, classified according to the conduction mechanism and analyzing the physics behind it. In particular piezoresistors, strain gauges, percolative and quantum tunnelling devices are reviewed here, with a perspective overview on the most used filler types and polymeric matrices. A description of the state-of-the-art of the tactile sensor solutions from the point of view of the architecture, the design and the performance is also reviewed, with a perspective outlook on the main promising applications.

Carbon nanotube/polymer-based composites have led to studies that enable the realization of low-cost, high-sensitivity piezoresistive strain sensors. This study investigated the characteristics of piezoresistive multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/epoxy composite strain sensors subjected to tensile and compressive loads in one direction at relatively small amounts of strain. A patterned sensor was designed to overcome the disadvantage of the load direction sensitivity differences in the existing sensors. The dispersion state of the MWCNTs in the epoxy polymer matrix with the proposed dispersion process was verified by scanning electron microscopy. An MWCNT/epoxy patterned strain sensor and a patch-type strain sensor were directly attached to an acrylic cantilever beam on the opposite side of a commercial metallic strain gauge. The proposed patterned sensor had gauge factors of 2.52 in the tension direction and 2.47 in the compression direction. The measured gauge factor difference for the patterned sensor was less than that for the conventional patch-type sensor. Moreover, the free-vibration frequency response characteristics were compared with those of metal strain gauges to verify the proposed patch-type sensor. The designed drive circuit compensated for the disadvantages due to the high drive voltage, and it was confirmed that the proposed sensor had higher sensitivity than the metallic strain gauge. In addition, the hysteresis of the temperature characteristics of the proposed sensor is presented to show its temperature range. It was verified that the patterned sensor developed through various studies could be applied as a strain sensor for structural health monitoring.

Composite sensors based on carbon nanotubes have been leading to significant research providing interesting aspects for realizing cost-effective and sensitive piezoresistive strain sensors. Here, we report a wide range of piezoresistive performance investigations by modifying fabrication factors such as multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) concentration and sensor dimensions for MWCNT/epoxy composites. The resistance change measurement analyzed the influence of the fabrication factors on the changes in the gauge factor. The dispersion quality of MWCNTs in the epoxy polymer matrix was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and conductivity measurement results. A configuration circuit was designed to use the composite sensor effectively. It has been shown that, in comparison with commercially available strain gauges, composites with CNT fillers have the potential to attain structural health monitoring capabilities by utilizing the variation of electrical conductivity and its relation to strain or damage within the composite. Based on the characteristics of the MWCNT, we predicted the range of conductivity that can be seen in the fabricated composite. The sensor may require a large surface area and a thin thickness as fabrication factors at minimum filler concentration capable of exhibiting a tunneling effect, in order to fabricate a sensor with high sensitivity. The proposed composite sensors will be suitable in various potential strain sensor applications, including structural health monitoring.

The demand for high performance multifunctional wearable devices is more and more pushing towards the development of novel low-cost, soft and flexible sensors with high sensitivity. In the present work, we describe the fabrication process and the properties of new polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foams loaded with multilayer graphene nanoplatelets (MLGs) for application as high sensitive piezoresistive pressure sensors. The effective DC conductivity of the produced foams is measured as a function of MLG loading. The piezoresistive response of the MLG-PDMS foam-based sensor at different strain rates is assessed through quasi-static pressure tests. The results of the experimental investigations demonstrated that sensor loaded with 0.96 wt.% of MLGs is characterized by a highly repeatable pressure-dependent conductance after a few stabilization cycles and it is suitable for detecting compressive stresses as low as 10 kPa, with a sensitivity of 0.23 kPa−1, corresponding to an applied pressure of 70 kPa. Moreover, it is estimated that the sensor is able to detect pressure variations of ~1 Pa. Therefore, the new graphene-PDMS composite foam is a lightweight cost-effective material, suitable for sensing applications in the subtle or low and medium pressure ranges.

We present a nanocomposite strain sensor (NCSS) to develop a novel structural health monitoring (SHM) sensor that can be easily installed in a composite structure. An NCSS made of a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/epoxy composite was installed on a target structure with facile processing. We attempted to evaluate the NCSS sensing characteristics and benchmark compared to those of a conventional foil strain gauge. The response of the NCSS was fairly good and the result was nearly identical to the strain gauge. A neuron, which is a biomimetic long continuous NCSS, was also developed, and its vibration response was investigated for structural damage detection of a composite cantilever. The vibration response for damage detection was measured by tracking the first natural frequency, which demonstrated good result that matched the finite element (FE) analysis.

In this work, we have developed novel flexible strain sensors based on an highly interconnected three-dimensional Polyurethane (PU) foam coated with a Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-multilayer graphene nanoplatelets (MLGs) paint. The electromechanical response of the sensors embedded in a biocompatible elastomer is firstly investigated through quasi-static tensile tests. The measured resistance variation under an applied stress confirmed the piezoresistive behavior of the fabricated sensors, showing a gauge factor of 8 at strain of 20%. Finally, we also demonstrated the feasibility to use an array of three sensors to monitor the flexion/ extension of finger joints.