Strain⁃sensing properties of silicone rubber/multi⁃walled carbon nanotubes composites

doi:10.19491/j.issn.1001-9278.2024.02.001

Abstract

Abstract:

In this study， a novel type of methyl vinyl silicone rubber （VMQ）/multi⁃walled carbon nanotubes （MWCNT） composites were prepared by using an open⁃mill method， and the effects of MWCNT content on the dispersion， electrical conductivity and resistance⁃strain response of the composites were studied. The results indicated that MWCNT could be uniformly dispersed in VMQ at a certain amount to form a three⁃dimensional tunneling conductive network. This ensures the composites obtained a low percolation threshold of 2.51 wt%， a large sensing range higher than 200 %， and a high sensitivity with a gauge factor higher than 2 546.16）. The composites also present a stable resistance response signal in the process of multiple cycles， especially showing an excellent resistance signal stability without any shoulder peaks during 4 000 cycles. Through the theoretical model analysis of tunnel effect， the resistance⁃strain response mechanism was discussed. The composites exhibit the potential of real⁃time strain monitoring for large deformation isolation bearings.

Key words: multi?walled carbon nanotube, silicone rubber, resistance?strain response, structural health monitoring, smart sensing composite

CLC Number:

TQ321

WAN Bangwei, YANG Yang. Strain⁃sensing properties of silicone rubber/multi⁃walled carbon nanotubes composites[J]. China Plastics, 2024, 38(2): 1-6.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1. Preparation process of the VMQ/MWCNT composites

材料	用量
VMQ	4 g
MWCNT	2 %~6 %
SiO₂	10 %
HPMS	15 %
DCP	1 %

Tab.1. Formula of the composites

Fig.2. SEM images of the composites with different MWCNT contents

Fig.3. Resistance/strain response of the composite materials under static load

Fig.4. Resistance⁃strain response of the VMQ/MWCNT composites with MWCNT content of 4 %， 5 % and 6 % and strain of 100 %， respectively

Fig.5. Resistance⁃strain response of the VMQ/MWCNT composites under different strains， respectively

Fig.6. Resistance⁃strain response of the VMQ/MWCNT composites at different rates

Fig.7. Resistance⁃strain response performance of the MWCNT composites under 4 000 cycles

Fig.8. （a）~（c） Schematic diagram of the change of VMQ/MWCNT composites during the whole cycle；（d）~（f） Theoretical prediction and experimental results of the MWCNT with different contents

MWCNT含量/%	$m$	$ε c$	$n s$	$k 1$	$k 2$	$k$
4	8.32	6.92	-2.75	8.78	4.25	3.98
5	1.92	2.71	-2.43	6.46	37.84	12.82
6	1.39	2.37	-1.75	0.52	79.85	68.42

MWCNT含量/%	$m$	$ε c$	$n s$	$k 1$	$k 2$	$k$
4	8.32	6.92	-2.75	8.78	4.25	3.98
5	1.92	2.71	-2.43	6.46	37.84	12.82
6	1.39	2.37	-1.75	0.52	79.85	68.42

Tab.2. Parameters after fitting of ΔR/R0 strain curves of different VMQ/MWCNT composites

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