Characterization of Polymer Carbon Nanofiber Composite rfor Strain Measurement

Abstract

newline Although the evidence of use of nanotechnology can be tracked back to carbon nanotubes, newlinecementite nanowires used in the periods of 600BC. It is now in the recent past (1960 s) that newlinethey have gained more importance, specially knowing the facts that these materials give newlinebenefits including sensitivity, cost, response time with additional features like flexibility, as newlinecompared to their larger counter parts. This is mainly due to their tiny size meaning larger newlinesurface area (very high surface to volume ratio). These facts led to the use of nanomaterial for newlinesensing applications including health monitoring. Many other applications such as electronic newlineskin, self-healing and self-powered also makes use of nano materials embedded in polymer newlinematrix. The strain sensing capabilities play an important role in all the applications mentioned newlineabove, for instance the strain undergone by the electronic skin indicate the touch of the object newlinethat needs to be griped. newlineIn strain sensing applications, Nano materials mainly carbon based nanomaterials play an newlineimportant part due to its superior electrical conductivity, in addition to the size factor. Hence newlinein this study, Nanomaterials mainly Carbon nano tubes (CNT) and Carbon nano fibers (CNF) newlinehave been focused due to their superior / enhanced electrical properties. The research focuses newlineon the use of these nanomaterials in polyester resin to form a sensory material to sense strain. newlineThe research also focuses on the methods to achieve good bonding of CNFs with the matrix newlinematerial to enhance the sensing property of the composite film. The methods used and the newlinecorroboration of the sensory film obtained is achieved through various tests and experimental newlineresults that includes SEM,PXRD,FTIR,TGA among other tests newlineA comprehensive study was carried out to understand the benefits of CNTs and CNFs. This newlinestudy concluded that CNFs had distinctive benefits over CNTs. Hence the objective of this work newlineis narrowed down to develop a Polymer based nanocomposite for strain sensin