NOVEL PRESSURE SENSORS MADE FROM NANOCOMPOSITES (BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS-METAL OXIDE NANOPARTICLES): FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION

This paper aims to the preparation of novel pressure-sensitive nanocomposites with low cost, light weight, and good sensitivity. The nanocomposites of polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, and lead oxide nanoparticles have been investigated. The dielectric properties and dc electrical conductivity of (PVA-PAA-PbO2) nanocomposites have been studied. The dielectric properties of nanocomposites were measured in the frequency range (100 Hz-5 MHz). The experimental results showed that the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of (PVA-PAA-PbO2) nanocomposites decrease, as the frequency increases, and they increase with the concentrations of PbO2 nanoparticles. The ac electrical conductivity of (PVA-PAA-PbO2) nanocomposites increases with the frequency and the concentrations of PbO2 nanoparticles. The dc electrical conductivity of (PVA-PAA-PbO2) nanocomposites also increases with the concentrations of PbO2 nanoparticles. The application of pressure-sensitive nanocomposites has been examined in the pressure interval (60-200) bar. The results showed that the electrical resistance of (PVA-PAA-PbO2) pressure-sensitive nanocomposites decreases, as the compressive stress increases. The (PVA-PAA-PbO2) nanocomposites have high sensitivity to pressure.