Improved electrical resistance-pressure strain sensitivity of carbon nanotube network/polydimethylsiloxane composite using filtration and transfer process

The electrical resistance-pressure strain sensitivity of carbon nanotube network (NTN)/polymer composite is investigated. In this research, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used as the polymer matrix. The composite of NTN embedded in PDMS matrix has been fabricated by using filtration and transfer process. The thickness of NTN/PDMS composite can be controlled. Electrical resistance and pressure strain of the NTN/PDMS composite are measured simultaneously. Electrical resistance of NTN/PDMS composite has been obtained as a function of pressure strain. The NTN/PDMS composite exhibits linear change in electrical resistance as a result of pressure strain and has improved electrical resistance-pressure strain sensitivity. The NTN/PDMS composite has 90.6% resistance change at 6% pressure strain. The electrical resistance-pressure strain sensitivity of NTN/PDMS composite using filtration and transfer process is 2.13 times of the traditional NTN/PDMS composite. The characteristic in electrical resistance change implies that NTN/PDMS composite can be used as pressure strain sensors and applied to sensor systems.