• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 2017

This paper presents an ongoing study to develop a novel pressure sensor by means of a Nano Carbon Piezoresistive Composite (NCPC). The sensor was fabricated using the 3D printing process. We designed a miniaturized cantilever-type sensor electrode to improve the pressure sensing performance and utilized a 3D printer to build a small-sized body. The sensor electrode was made of 2 wt％ MWCNT/epoxy piezoresistive nano-composite, and the sensor body was encapsulated with a pipe plug cap for easy installation to any pressure system. The piezoresistivity responses of the sensor were converted into stable voltage outputs by using a signal processing system, which is similar to a conventional foil strain gauge. We evaluated the pressure-sensing performances using a pressure calibrator in the lab environment. The 3D-printed cantilever electrode pressure sensor showed linear voltage outputs of up to 16,500 KPa, which is a 200％ improvement in the pressure sensing range when compared with the bulk-type electrode used in our previous work.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.97-102
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• 2020

This paper presents the basic research for the design and fabrication of a 3D-printed load cell made of NCPC (nano-carbon piezo-resistive composite). We designed a structure that can resonate at a low frequency range of about 5-6 Hz with ANSYS using sensitivity analysis and a response surface method. The design was verified by fabricating the device with a low-quality commercial 3D printer and ABS filament. We conducted a feasibility test for a commercial sensor using 1000 cyclic load tests at 0.3 Hz in a material testing system. A manufacturing process for the 3D printer filament based on the NCPC was also developed using the nano-composite process.

• Carbon letters
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• v.25
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• pp.1-13
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• 2018

Gold functionalized graphene oxide (GOAu) nanoparticles were reinforced in acrylonitrile-butadiene rubbers (NBR) via solution and melt mixing methods. The synthesized NBR-GOAu nanocomposites have shown significant improvements in their rate of curing, mechanical strength, thermal stability and electrical properties. The homogeneous dispersion of GOAu nanoparticles in NBR has been considered responsible for the enhanced thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of NBR nanocomposites. In addition, the NBR-GOAu nanocomposites were able to show a decreasing trend in their dielectric constant (${\varepsilon}^{\prime}$) and electrical resistance on straining within a range of 10-70%. The decreasing trend in ${\varepsilon}^{\prime}$ is attributed to the decrease in electrode and interfacial polarization on straining the nanocomposites. The decreasing trend in electrical resistance in the nanocomposites is likely due to the attachment of Au nanoparticles to the surface of GO sheets which act as electrical interconnects. The Au nanoparticles have been proposed to function as ball rollers in-between GO nanosheets to improve their sliding on each other and to improve contacts with neighboring GO nanosheets, especially on straining the nanocomposites. The NBR-GOAu nanocomposites have exhibited piezoelectric gauge factor (${GF_{\varepsilon}}^{\prime}$) of ~0.5, and piezo-resistive gauge factor ($GF_R$) of ~0.9 which clearly indicated that GOAu reinforced NBR nanocomposites are potentially useful in fabrication of structural, high temperature responsive, and stretchable strain-sensitive sensors.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2016

This paper presents a preliminary study on the pressure sensing characteristics of smart nano composites made of MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotube) to develop a novel pressure sensor. We fabricated the composite pressure sensor by using a solution casting process. Made of carbon smart nano composites, the sensor works by means of piezoresistivity under pressure. We built a signal processing system similar to a conventional strain gage system. The sensor voltage outputs during the experiment for the pressure sensor and the resistance changes of the MWCNT as well as the epoxy based on the smart nano composite under static pressure were fairly stable and showed quite consistent responses under lab level tests. We confirmed that the response time characteristics of MWCNT nano composites with epoxy were faster than the MWCNT/EPDM sensor under static loads.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.388-394
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• 2021

The conventional microelectromechanical system (MEMS) process has been used to fabricate sensors with high costs and high-volume productions. Emerging 3D printing can utilize various materials and quickly fabricate a product using low-cost equipment rather than traditional manufacturing processes. 3D printing also can produce the sensor using various materials and design its sensing structure with freely optimized shapes. Hence, 3D printing is expected to be a new technology that can produce sensors on-site and respond to on-demand demand by combining it with open platform technology. Therefore, this paper reviews three standard 3D printing technologies, such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Direct Ink Writing (DIW), and Digital Light Processing (DLP), which can apply to the sensor fabrication process. The review focuses on strain/load sensors having both sensing material features and structural features as well. NCPC (Nano Carbon Piezoresistive Composite) is also introduced as a promising 3D material due to its favorable sensing characteristics.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.779-788
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• 2020

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 (ε>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.