Piezoresistive Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Filled Cement-Based Composites

Piezoresistive cement-based composites are prepared by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) into cement-based materials (including cement paste and cement mortar), with the assistant of surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaDDBS). The variations in electrical resistance of such cement-based composites are explored under repeated compressive loading and impulsive loading. Experimental results indicate that there are good corresponding relationships between the loading and the electrical resistance of MWNTs filled cement-based composites with the doping level of MWNTs as low as 0.05% by weight of cement. These findings indicate that the use of NaDDBS is an effective way for dispersing MWNTs in cement-based composite and fabricating MWNTs filled cement-based composite with stable and strong piezoresistive response.