Sensitivity, influence of the strain rate and reversibility of GNPs based multiscale composite materials for high sensitive strain sensors

The addition of functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (f-GNPs) into the epoxy resin of glass fiber multiscale composite materials creates an electrically conductive network. This electrical network is highly sensitive to strain induced in the material. For this reason, it is a competitive material to be used in structural health monitoring (SHM). Sensitivity of multiscale composite materials is ∼50 under tensile loads and the behavior under compression loads differs, making possible the detection of different load conditions. Independency of the strain rate is related to the enhanced interface between f-GNPs and the epoxy matrix due to functionalization. Additionally, the electrical behavior is reversible without the loss of efficiency in sensorial properties.