Research the Composite Strain Sensors for CNT/Polymer

Abstract

CNT means carbon nanotube possess piezoelectric due to that behavior its electrical property changes even with the strain applied on the CNT is at the nanoscale. Due to the advantages of composite strain sensor like their multidirectional sensing capability, high strain sensitivity, high dynamic range, flexibility, and low mass density they are turning out to be an ultimate replacement to conventional strain sensors in various applications. CNT film can also be incorporated into the polymer to form a CNT/polymer composite strain sensor. Some of the most famous polymers employed to fabricate CNT/polymer composite strain sensors are thermoplastic polymers polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, etc., thermosetting polymers like epoxy resins, polyurethanes, etc., and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The small addition of CNTs to polymer significantly increases their electromechanical properties by enhancing its tensile strength & young modulus, which in turn improves their sensing performance. CNT/polymer composite strain sensor exhibits better strain transfer, gauge factor, linearity, repeatability, and cost than that of pure CNT strain sensor. There are different factors which are affecting the performance of CNT/polymer composite strain sensor including quality and quantity of CNT filler particles in composite, type of fabrication technique adopted to form a composite, alignment and agglomerates of CNT in composite, cracks or defect in composite and environmental conditions. This paper reviews the performance of various different types of CNT/polymer composite strain sensors.