Inherently conducting polymer modified polyurethane smart foam for pressure sensing

A new compressible conducting material has been developed by coating polyurethane (PU) foam with inherently conducting polypyrrole (PPy). The optimised conditions for preparation of the conducting foam have been investigated. Evaluation of the conducting foam shows that a linear relationship exists between the conductance and the stress applied. Parameters such as sensitivity, dynamic range, repeatability of this pressure sensor are discussed. The use of this soft pressure sensor in a prototype breath monitor is also reported. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.