Carbon Black Reinforced Epoxy Resin Nanocomposites as Bending Sensors

Abstract

By blending electrically conducting carbon black particles and silica into poly(bisphenol A-co-epichlorohydrin) epoxy resin polymer, conductive nanocomposites were prepared by printing onto transparency films and curing. Application of a milling procedure prior to application is beneficial for the reduction of cracks in the subsequent nanocomposites. Electrical conduction of nanocomposite is CB content dependent. A percolation region (19—24% CB on mass of resin) exists where the nanocomposite exhibits a transition from an electrical insulator to conductor. Nanocomposites with 14% and 19% CB on mass of resin demonstrated greatest sensitivity to changes in bending angle, attributed to greater localized changes in the conductive paths within a semi-conducting sensor. Good reproducibility was observed as a result of molecular interactions between CB particles and the epoxy resin.

Keywords

bending sensors epoxy resin carbon black electrical conduction coating nanocomposite.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Forrest, S.R. (2004). The Path to Ubiquitous and Low-Cost Organic Electronic Appliances on Plastic, Nature , 428: 911-918.

Hull, D. and Clyne, T.W. (1996). An Introduction to Composite Materials, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York.

Ezquerra, T.A. , Balta Calleja, F.J. and Plans, J. (1986). On Tunnelling Effects In Metal-Deposited Polyethylene - Carbon Black and Polycarbonate - Carbon Black Systems, J. Mater. Res., 1(3): 510-522.

Poly, M.H. and Boonstra, B.B.B.T. (1957). Carbon Black For Highly Conductive Rubber, Rubber Chem. Technol., 30(1): 170-179.

Sichel, E.K. , Gittleman, J.I. and Shenf, P. (1982). Carbon Black-Polymer Composites, Marcel Dekker, New York.

Taya, M. , Kim, W.J. and Ono, K. (1998). Piezoresistivity of a Short Fiber/Elastomer Matrix Composite, Mechanics of Materials, 28(1-4): 53-59.

Fulks, R.G. and Hager, R.J. (1987). Method and Apparatus for Sensing Activity for a Keyboard and the Like, US 4,649,784.

Gentile, C.T. , Wallace, M. , Avalon , T.D. , Goodman, S. , Fuller, R. and Hall, T. (1992). Angular Displacement Sensors, US 5,086,785.

Langford, G.B. (1992). Flexible Potentiometer , US 5,157,372.

10.

Langford, G.B. (1994). Flexible Potentiometer in a Horn Control System, US 5,309,135.

11.

Krivopal, B. and Brighton, M. (1999). Pressure Sensitive Ink Means, and Methods of Use, US 5,989,700.

12.

Kang, S. , Hong, S.I. , Choe, C.R. , Park, M. , Rim, S. and Kim, J. (2001). Preparation and Characterization of Epoxy Composites Filled with Functionalized Nanosilica Particles Obtained via Sol-Gel Process , Polymer, 42(3): 879-887.

13.

Ledern, G. , Ladwig, T. Valter, V. , Frahn, S. and Meyer, J. (2002). New Effects of Fumed Silica in Modern Coatings , Prog. Org. Coat., 45(2-3): 139-144.

14.

Ettlinger, M. , Ladwig, T. and Weise, A. (2000). Surface Modified Fumed Silicas for Modern Coatings, Prog. Org. Coat., 40(1-4): 31-34.

15.

Zhang, W. , Blackburn, R.S. and Dehghani-Sanij, A.A. (2007). Effect of Silica Concentration on Electrical Conductivity of Epoxy Resin-Carbon Black-Silica Nanocomposites , Scripta Mater., 56(7): 581-584.

16.

Zhang, W. , Blackburn, R.S. and Dehghani-Sanij, A.A. (2007). Effect of Carbon Black Silica Concentration on Electrical Conductivity of Epoxy Resin-Carbon Black-Silica Nanocomposites, J. Mat. Sci., 42(18): 7861-7865.

17.

Zhang, W. , Blackburn, R.S. and Dehghani-Sanij, A.A. (2007). Electrical Conductivity of Epoxy Resin-Carbon Black-Silica Nanocomposites: Effect of Silica Concentration and Analysis of Polymer Curing Reaction by FT-IR, Scripta Mater., 57(10): 949-952.

18.

Hull, D. and Clyne, T.W. (1996). An Introduction to Composite Materials, 2nd edn, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.