The piezoresistivity, expressed as the relative resistance variation with imposed strain for conductive polymer nanocomposites, was analyzed by employing two models, developed elsewhere, and a new one proposed in the present work. The corresponding experimental results of three different types of polymer nanocomposites, namely styrene-butadiene rubber reinforced with carbon black and multi walled carbon nanotubes, poly-vinylidene-fluoride and polypropylene reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, were comparatively studied, on the basis of the employed models. An effort was made to explore the working mechanisms which control the relative resistance change with strain. The effect of polymer type, the strain range and the nano-filler type and weight fraction were investigated.
SchulteK andBaronC.Load and failure analyses of CFRP laminates by means of electrical resistivity measurements. Compos Sci Technol1989;
36: 63–76.
2.
GeorgousisGPandisCChatzimanolis-MoustakasCet al.
Study of the reinforcing mechanism and strain sensing in a carbon black filled elastomer. Composites Part B: Eng2015;
80: 20–26.
KniteMTeterisVKiplokaAet al.
Polyisoprene–carbon black nanocomposites as tensile strain and pressure sensor materials. Sensors Actuators A2004;
110: 142–149.
5.
YasuokaTShimamuraYTodorokiA.Patch-type large strain sensor using elastomeric composite filled with carbon nanofibers. Int J Aeronaut Space Sci2013;
14: 146–151.
6.
GeorgousisGPandisCKalamiotisAet al.
Strain sensing in polymer/carbon nanotube composites by electrical resistance measurement. Composites Part B2015;
68: 162–169.
7.
KanounOMüllerCBenchiroufAet al.
Flexible carbon nanotube films for high performance strain sensors. Sensors2014;
14: 10042–10071.
8.
BokobzaLBelinC.Effect of strain on the properties of a styrene–butadiene rubber filled with multiwall carbon nanotubes. J Appl Polym Sci2007;
105: 2054–2061.
9.
MičušíkMOmastováMKrupaIet al.
A comparative study on the electrical and mechanical behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotube composites prepared by diluting a masterbatch with various types of polypropylenes. J Appl Polym Sci2009;
113: 2536–2551.
10.
KeKWangYZhangKet al.
Melt viscoelasticity, electrical conductivity, and crystallization of PVDF/MWCNT composites: effect of the dispersion of MWCNTs. J Appl Polym Sci2012;
125: E49–E57
11.
BaltopoulosAAthanasopoulosNFotiouIet al.
Sensing strain and damage in polyurethane–MWCNT nanocomposite foams using electrical measurements. Express Polym Lett2013;
7: 40–54.
12.
BokobzaL.Multiwall carbon nanotube elastomeric composites: a review. Polymer2007;
48: 4907–4920.
13.
PianaFPionteckJ.Effect of the melt processing conditions on the conductive paths formation in thermoplastic polyurethane/expanded graphite (TPU/EG) composites. Compos Sci Technol2013;
80: 39–46.
14.
KrajčiJŠpitálsky ChodákI.Relationship between conductivity and stress–strain curve of electroconductive composite with SBR or polycaprolactone matrices. Eur Polym J2014;
55: 135–143.
15.
AlamusiFHSatoshiASLiuYet al.
Piezoresistive strain sensors made from carbon nanotubes based polymer nanocomposites. Sensors2011;
11: 10691–10723.
HuNKarubeYAraiMet al.
Investigation on sensitivity of a polymer/carbon nanotube composite strain sensor. Carbon2010;
48: 680–687.
21.
YasuokaTShimamuraYTodorokiA.Electrical resistance change under strain of CNF/flexible-epoxy composite. Adv Compos Mater2010;
19: 123–138.
22.
Alamusi, Liu YLHuN.Numerical simulations on piezoresistivity of CNT/polymer based nanocomposites. Comput Mater Continua2010;
20: 101–118.
23.
WichmannMHGBuschhornSTGehrmannJet al.
Piezoresistive response of epoxy composites with carbon nanoparticles under tensile load. Phys Rev B2009;
80: 245437.
24.
KimYJChaJYHamHet al.
Preparation of piezoresistive nano smart hybrid material based on grapheme. Curr Appl Phys2011;
11: S350–S352.
25.
Bautista-QuijanoJRPötschkePBrünigHet al.
Strain sensing, electrical and mechanical properties of polycarbonate/multiwall carbon nanotube monofilament fibers fabricated by melt spinning. Polymer2016;
82: 181–189.
26.
Hu LiuYLiKDaiGet al.
Electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites at ultralow graphene loading levels for strain sensor applications. J Mater Chem C2016;
4: 157–166.
27.
YoshinobuSYasuokaTTodorokiA. Strain sensing by using piezoresistivity of carbon–nanotube–epoxy composite. In: 16th international conference on Composite materials, 8-13 July 2007, Kyoto, Japan.
28.
GeorgousisGRoumposKKontouEet al.
Strain and damage monitoring in SBR nanocomposites under cyclic loading. Composites Part B2017;
131: 50–61.
29.
PissisPGeorgousisGPandisCet al.
Strain and damage sensing in polymer composites and nanocomposites with conducting fillers. Procedia Eng2015;
114: 590–597.
30.
LogakisEPandisCPeoglosVet al.
Electrical/dielectric properties and conduction mechanism in melt processed polyamide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes composites. Polymer2009;
50: 5103–5111.
31.
ZhangX-WPanYZhengQet al.
Time dependence of piezoresistance for the conductor-filled polymer composites. J Polym Sci B Polym Phys2000;
38: 2739–2749.
32.
VertuccioLVittoriaVGuadagnoLet al.
Strain and damage monitoring in carbon-nanotube-based composite under cyclic strain. Composites Part A2015;
71: 9–16.
33.
ZallenR.The physics of amorphous solids. Weinheim:
John Wiley & Sons, 1983.
34.
MeiHZhangCWangJ Ret al.
Impedance characteristics of surface pressure-sensitive carbon black/silicone rubber composites. Sensors Actuators A: Phys2015;
233: 118–124.
35.
OnsagerL.The effects of shape on the interaction of colloidal particles. Ann New York Acad Sci1949;
51: 627–659.
36.
DuFFischerJEWineyKI.Effect of nanotube alignment on percolation conductivity in carbon nanotube/polymer composites. Phys Rev B2005;
72: 121404R.
37.
MullinsLTobinNR.Theoretical model for the elastic behavior of filler-reinforced vulcanized rubbers. RubberChem Technol1957;
30: 555–571.
38.
ZúñigaAEBeattyMF.A new phenomenological model for stress-softening in elastomers. Z Angew Math Phys2002;
53: 794–814.
39.
TauheedFSarangiS.Damage-induced stress-softening and viscoelasticity of limited elastic materials. Mech Time-Depend Mater2014;
18: 493–525.
