Polyisoprene-Multi Wall Carbon Nanotube Composite Structure for Flexible Pressure Sensor Application

The major problem of conventional rigid sensor materials is difficulty to integer them into soft flexible structures. Piezoresistive polyisoprene/nanostructured carbon composite appears as promising materials for such applicatior. Previous research approved high structure carbon black and carbon nanotube filled composites as finger pressure sensitive piezoresistive materials. Carbon nanotubes originate with variable length to width ratio and high electric conductivity in longitudinal direction of the tubes, which theoretically should make it possible to obtain electric percolation in polymer-carbon nanotube composites, at very low loads of filler. However recent experience with mechanically dispersed carbon nanotubes shows quite high values of percolation threshold and specific sensing properties. In this work we present an attempt to use ultrasound for improved dispersion of the filler in a piezoresistive polyisoprene-multi wall carbon nanotube composite as well polyisoprene-high structure carbon black composite. The noticeable shift of percolation threshold for both types of composites have been achieved. The piezoresistive behavior of sonicated composites have been determined and compared with mechanically mixed ones. The differences have been evaluated and explained.