Abstract
Electrically conductive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites with carbon nanofillers have potential applications in strain sensors. However, it is challenging to simultaneously achieve low percolation threshold, good electrical conductivity and high strain sensitivity especially in melt-mixed TPU-carbon filler nanocomposites. Here, we report on using branched carbon nanotubes known as carbon nanostructures (CNS) in melt-mixed TPU composites. These composites have an electrical percolation threshold (ΦC) of 0.82 wt%, whereas when using multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) the ΦC is 3.02 wt%. Based on linear fitting, the TPU nanocomposite with 2 wt% CNS shows gauge factors of 15, 30 and 58 for strain levels of 0–44%, 45–73% and 74–100%, respectively, by comparison with the 5 wt% CNT nanocomposite, which exhibits a gauge factor of 18 for strain 0–100%. These composites show potential strain-sensing applications in detection of joint bending and muscle exercise. This study reveals the effects of CNT morphology on polymer composite properties, enhancing the understanding of structure-property relationship for polymer nanocomposites.
Published Version
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