Development and study of low-cost VACNT/PDMS stretchable and resistive strain sensor

This study introduces fast manufactured (4-5 hours) vertical aligned carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane (VACNT/PDMS) stretchable sensor for aircraft structures and polymer composites. The VACNT growth method from thermal CVD with camphor and ferrocene precursors create a dense and homogeneous CNT structure with many ohmic conducting paths that surpass any more resistive tunneling phenomena. The extensive AC/DC piezoresistive performance investigation shows ohmic conduction. The VACNTs/PDMS sensor presented high linearity (r(2) = 0.99) under similar to 20 % strain with an average gauge factor of 3.28 at DC measurements and minor resistance variations (0.052 %) attributed to the copper terminals electrodeposition. An important feature is the resistance value compatible with conventional extensometry equipment. The DC gauge factor was similar to 60 % higher than the conventional metallic strain gauge allowing measurements within a wider strain range. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.