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Porosity and composition dependence on electrical and piezoresistive properties of thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites

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Abstract

The development and characterization of pressure sensing porous nanocomposites are reported here. A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was chosen as an elastomeric matrix, which was reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) by high shear twin screw extrusion mixing. Porosity was introduced to the composites through the phase separation of a single TPU-carbon-dioxide gas solution. Interactions between MWNT and TPU were elucidated through calorimetry, gravimetric decomposition, conductivity measurements, and microstructure imaging. The piezoresistance (pressure–resistance) behavior of the nanocomposites was investigated and found to be dependent on MWNT concentration and nanocomposite microstructure. Mechanisms of piezoresistance in solid and porous nanocomposites are proposed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge assistance of Jonathan Yu and Dan Grozea (both of Material Science and Engineering, University of Toronto) with electrical and piezoresistance testing. Financial support for this study is provided by Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (Canada), Canada Research Chairs Program, Canada Foundation for Innovation, and the Ontario Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G8

    Reza Rizvi & Hani Naguib

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G8

    Hani Naguib

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  1. Reza Rizvi
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Correspondence to Hani Naguib.

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Rizvi, R., Naguib, H. Porosity and composition dependence on electrical and piezoresistive properties of thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites. Journal of Materials Research 28, 2415–2425 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2013.218

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2013.218

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