Screen printed resistive pressure sensors fabricated from polymer composites with carbon nanotubes

The paper presents the results of the investigation into fl exible layers based on carbon nanotubes used as measuring layer in forcesensor. Results of mechanical fatigue tests show that carbon nanotubes layers are good for reinforcing or as a conductive additive in composite materials. Composition of carbon nanotubes in PMMA polymer resin was prepared by modifi ed mixing process used in thick film material preparation. Sensor structure was fabricated by printing polymer-nanotube areas with polymer-silver paths as connection electrodes on polyester substrate foil. Second type of sensors was prepared with two comb electrodes and single carbon measuring layer. Composite materials were fabricated with diff erent amount of nanotube content: 0,25 wt%, 0,5 wt%, 1 wt% and 2 wt% multiwall carbon naotubes (MWCNT). Diff erent types of carbon-composites measuring layers were compared in the experiment. Results of mechanical fatigue tests conducted on carbon nanotubes layers showed that composition with polymer resin have good adhesion to polymer surface. Experiment shows CNT are good for reinforcing or as a conductive additive in diff erent composite materials. Results of the observations show that dependence between sensor resistance and force tension is linear in logarithmic scale and similar for diff erent samples. Resistance between sensor electrodes was measured for force tension changes in range.