Stretchable and conformable metal-polymer piezoresistive hybrid system

A high flexible and easy conformable piezoresistive composite material was used and tested to fit in complex-shaped structures and to be suitably integrated onto the robot surface for tactile sensing. In order to obtain the functional material in the form of self standing multilayer thin samples, two process flows based on microcasting and hot embossing techniques were optimized. The influence of different composition parameters on the functional performances was investigated and a huge variation of the electrical resistance, up to nine orders of magnitude, was registered when a mechanical pressure was applied to the prepared samples. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.