2020/06/14 by Andrey Bannych, Sari Katz, Zahava Barkay +1 · 11 citations
Engineering · Materials Science · #Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials #Conducting polymers and applications #Carbon Nanotubes in Composites #Materials science #Carbon nanotube #Composite material #Silicone rubber #Electrical conductor #Composite number #Characterization (materials science) #Deformation (meteorology) #Carbon black #Soft robotics #Raman spectroscopy #Electrode #Electronics #Natural rubber #Nanotechnology #Computer science
paper · pdf · doi:10.3390/polym12061345
published in Polymers 12(6), 1345 (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
openalex publication_date 2020/06/14 · openalex created_date 2020/06/19 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Soft electronics based on various rubbers have lately been needed in many advanced applications such as soft robotics, wearable electronics, and remote health monitoring. The ability of a self-sensing material to be monitored in use provides a significant advantage. However, conductive fillers usually used to increase conductivity also change mechanical properties. Most importantly, the initial sought-after properties of rubber, namely softness and long elastic deformation, are usually compromised. This work presents full mechanical and electro-mechanical characterization, together with self-sensing abilities of a vinyl methyl silicone rubber (VMQ) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite, featuring conductivity while maintaining low hardness. The research demonstrates that MWCNT/VMQ with just 4 wt.% of MWCNT are as conductive as commercial conductive VMQ based on Carbon Black, while exhibiting lower hardness and higher elastic recovery (~20% plastic deformation, similar to pure rubber). The research also demonstrates piezo-resistivity and Raman-sensitivity, allowing for self-sensing. Using morphological data, proposed mechanisms for the superior electrical and mechanical behavior, as well as the in-situ fingerprint for the composite conditions are presented. This research novelty is in the full MWCNT/VMQ mechanical and electro-mechanical characterization, thus demonstrating its ability to serve as a sensor over large local strains, multiple straining cycles, and environmental damage.