Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes in Cement-Based Composites and Its Influence on the Piezoresistivities of Composites

Abstract

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaDDBS) are used as surfactants to improve the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in cement mortar and fabricate piezoresistive carbon-nanotube/cement mortar composite. The piezoresistivity of carbon-nanotube/cement mortar composite with different content levels of MWNTs and different surfactants were explored under repeated loading and impulsive loading. Experimental results indicate that NaDDBS has higher efficiency than SDS for the dispersion of MWNTs in cement mortar. The response of the electrical resistance of carbon-nanotube/cement mortar composite with NaDDBS to external force is more stable and sensitive than that of carbon-nanotube/cement mortar composite with SDS. These findings indicate that the use of NaDDBS is an effective way for improving the dispersion of MWNTs in cement-based composite and fabricating MWNTs filled cement-based composite with stable and strong piezoresistive response.