Steel and Composite Structures

Volume 35, Number 6, 2020, pages 779-788

DOI: 10.12989/scs.2020.35.6.779

Study of body movement monitoring utilizing nano-composite strain sensors contaning Carbon nanotubes and silicone rubber

Mohammadbagher Azizkhani, Javad Kadkhodapour, Ali Pourkamali Anaraki, Behzad Shirkavand Hadavand and Reza Kolahchi

Abstract

Multi-Walled Carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) coupled with Silicone Rubber (SR) can represent applicable strain sensors with accessible materials, which result in good stretchability and great sensitivity. Employing these materials and given the fact that the combination of these two has been addressed in few studies, this study is trying to represent a low-cost, durable and stretchable strain sensor that can perform excellently in a high number of repeated cycles. Great stability was observed during the cyclic test after 2000 cycles. Ultrahigh sensitivity (GF>1227) along with good extensibility (e>120%) was observed while testing the sensor at different strain rates and the various number of cycles. Further investigation is dedicated to sensor performance in the detection of human body movements. Not only the sensor performance in detecting the small strains like the vibrations on the throat was tested, but also the larger strains as observed in extension/bending of the muscle joints like knee were monitored and recorded. Bearing in mind the applicability and low-cost features, this sensor may become promising in skin-mountable devices to detect the human body motions.

Key Words

multi-walled carbon nanotubes; silicone rubber; stretchablity; strain sensors; piezoresistive sensor; body movement monitoring

Address

Mohammadbagher Azizkhani, Javad Kadkhodapour, Ali Pourkamali Anaraki and Reza Kolahchi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran Behzad Shirkavand Hadavand: Department of Resin and Additives, Institute of Color Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran Reza Kolahchi: Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Viet Nam