Carbon nanotubes based strain sensors

This paper presents the design, fabrication and experimental results of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based strain sensors. The sensors were fabricated by pressed CNTs tablets and elastic polymer beam. The diameter of multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs) varied between 10 and 30 nm. The tablets of multiwalled CNTs having nominal thickness of 1.0 mm were pressed at a pressure of 200 and 300 MPa. The inter-electrodes distance (length) and width of the surface-type samples were in the range of 10–12 mm and 5–6 mm respectively. The DC resistance of the sensors having the strain sensitivity in the range of 50–80 in average increased under tension and decreased under compression.

► Strain sensors based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were designed and fabricated by pressed CNTs tables and elastic polymer beam. ► Tablets of multiwalled CNTs were pressed at a pressure of 200 and 300 MPa. ► DC resistance of the strain sensors increases under tension and decreases under compression. ► Strain sensitivity of the sensor is in the range of 50–80 in average.