High-piezoresistive sensitivity of silicone matrix composites with low metal filler content

A series of nickel/silicone rubber composites, co-filled with micron nickel and submicron nickel particles, were made in this work. The composites with mass ratio of nickel/silicone rubber under 1.8:1 had a high pressure sensitivity; the conductivity changed 9 orders under a low pressure around 0.096 MPa. To our knowledge, this is the lowest content of fillers reported to date in high sensitive polymer-based composites. Furthermore, the composites show good repeatability of piezoresistivity, indicating attractive application prospect. The gauge factor of the composites was studied and a master curve appeared for the composites with different conductive fillers. It showed that the gauge factor of the composites was strain-controlled. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.