Resistance-strain sensitive rubber composites filled by multiwalled carbon nanotubes for structuraldeformation monitoring

Xingyao Liu,Zheng Yao,Zhiwei Lin,Yang Yang,Rongxin Guo,Haiting Xia

doi:10.1177/18479804211011384

Xingyao Liu, Zheng Yao + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/18479804211011384

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Abstract

In this article, multiwalled carbon nanotube/natural rubber composites with resistance-strain sensitivity were prepared by solution method, when the electrical percolation threshold of multiwalled carbon nanotube is only ∼3.5 wt%. The mechanical properties and resistance-strain response sensitivity were studied and analyzed systematically. The dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the natural rubber matrix was characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The composite exhibits good deformation sensitivity (gauge factor >27), large strain sensing range (>200%), and high signal stability when multiwalled carbon nanotube content was appropriate. The composite is suited to application in strain monitoring of large deformation structures since the resistance-strain response is more stable when strain exceeds 100%. To understand the mechanism of the resistance-strain response, the ‘shoulder peak’ of resistance-strain curve was researched and explained by the digital image correlation method, and an analytical model was developed when considering the effects of electronic tunneling and hopping in multiwalled carbon nanotube networks. Both experiment and analytical results confirm the break-restructure process of multiwalled carbon nanotube networks under applied strain cause the resistance-strain response. Finally, the practical application of the composite to monitoring strain load of rubber isolation bearing was realized.

Highlights

Since the first application of isolation base technology in 1909, the rubber isolation bearing has been widely used in seismic protection systems because of its significant effect on improving the seismic resistance ability of buildings and constructions.[1,2] long-term and real-time monitoring for the structural health of rubber isolation bearing is important to ensure the anti-seismic property and service safety of building structures
The large deformable resistance-strain sensing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/ nature rubber (NR) composite with high sensitivity and stability was prepared by a solution method
The tensile strength of the MWCNT/NR composites is lower than neat NR (7.54 MPa) when the content exceeds the percolation threshold, such as 5.86 MPa for the 6 wt% MWCNT/NR composite, which is decreased by 22.3%

Summary

Introduction

Since the first application of isolation base technology in 1909, the rubber isolation bearing has been widely used in seismic protection systems because of its significant effect on improving the seismic resistance ability of buildings and constructions.[1,2] long-term and real-time monitoring for the structural health of rubber isolation bearing is important to ensure the anti-seismic property and service safety of building structures. Keywords Multiwalled carbon nanotube/natural rubber composite, resistance-strain response, shoulder peak effect, structural deformation monitoring, rubber isolation bearing

Results

Conclusion