Polyisoprene-carbon black nanocomposites as tensile strain and pressure sensor materials

Abstract Electrically conductive polymer composites (ECPC) are shown as prospective large-size flexible pressure and stretch sensors for detecting of dangerous deformations and vibrations of vehicle parts. Reversible change of resistance dependent on stretch and pressure is obtained in electro-conductive polymer nanocomposites. At certain concentrations of carbon nano-particles a change of electrical resistance by more than four orders is observed at 40% relative stretch. The maximum sensitivity of nanocomposites is observed in the vicinity of the transition of electro-conductive percolation. Nanocomposites exhibit a very weak semiconductor-like temperature dependence of resistance. The ten…