Evaluation and Optimisation of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Mixed Polymer Based Piezoresistive Strain Sensors

Abstract

Nanomaterials find immense applications in a wide spectrum of industries newlineranging from cosmetics to space and electronics to biomedical fields. The newlinethesis work addresses the possibility of extending the use of Multi walled newlineCarbon Nanotubes (MWCNT s) and graphene mixed polymer newlinenanocomposites for three different applications. The primary objective of the newlinestudy is to explore their use as strain sensors for non-destructive testing of newlinematerials. It has also been shown to be a good sensor to identify defects in newlineengineering components. Finally the ability to extend their use as flexible newlineelectronic components for devices has been investigated.Two types of nanocomposite films with filler as either MWCNT or graphene newlineand with PVDF as the matrix were developed using solvent casting technique. newlineThese nanocomposite films were found to exhibit piezoresistive property. The newlineeffects of filler concentration on sensitivity of the films have been investigated. newlineThe prepared films were characterized using a range of techniques including newlineScanning Electron Microscope, X-ray Diffractometer, Atomic Force newlineMicroscope, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscope and Ultra-Violet-Diffuse newlineReflectance Spectroscope (UV-DRS). These characterization techniques newlinereveal the nature of the film such as its microstructure, grain size, lattice newlinestrain, functional group present and its band gap energy.These types of nanomaterial filled polymer films will find wide applications in newlinemaking smart devices in near future. These sensors can be used for real time newlinemonitoring of components in metallurgical industries both during in-service newlineand post service inspection. Non-contact and non-destructive method of newlineaccurate strain sensing can be possible in near future newline