Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effects
Flexible strain sensors based on conductive thermoplastic elastomer composites have garnered significant attention for wearable electronics and soft robotics applications. Among the various material combinations, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have emerge...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425015029 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849709219638411264 |
|---|---|
| author | Imen Ayedi Slim Naifar Rajarajan Ramalingame Mario Scholze Martin Wagner Olfa Kanoun |
| author_facet | Imen Ayedi Slim Naifar Rajarajan Ramalingame Mario Scholze Martin Wagner Olfa Kanoun |
| author_sort | Imen Ayedi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flexible strain sensors based on conductive thermoplastic elastomer composites have garnered significant attention for wearable electronics and soft robotics applications. Among the various material combinations, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their processability and electromechanical properties. However, achieving the desired properties of these strain sensors requires careful selection of materials and meeting specific criteria. In this context, filament strain sensors have been developed by investigating different types of TPU with varying Shore hardnesses from 37 to 71, combined with MWCNTs as a conductive filler through an extrusion process. The fabrication process and characterization techniques are reported, guiding material selection when combining a TPU with a piezoresistive filler to create a soft, stretchable sensor. Characterization of the filament sensors by dynamic tensile testing shows that the sensors have a good piezoresistive response and can detect deformation accurately. Critical parameters such as drift, relaxation behavior, hysteresis and lifetime have extensively evaluated. It has seen that higher Shore hardness decreased the elongation at the point of fracture. In quasi-static cycle testing, Harder TPUs exhibited lower relaxation (4.34) and lower drift (3.72). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e85a8039feba46038d1a30d1155574be |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2238-7854 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e85a8039feba46038d1a30d1155574be2025-08-20T03:15:22ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-07-01373142315410.1016/j.jmrt.2025.06.080Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effectsImen Ayedi0Slim Naifar1Rajarajan Ramalingame2Mario Scholze3Martin Wagner4Olfa Kanoun5Professorship Measurement and Sensor Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, 09126, Germany; Corresponding author.Laboratory of Electromechanical Systems (LASEM), National School of Engineers of Sfax, Sfax, 3038, Tunisia; Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Gabes, University of Gabes, Gabes, 6072, TunisiaProfessorship Measurement and Sensor Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, 09126, GermanyInstitute of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, 09126, GermanyInstitute of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, 09126, GermanyProfessorship Measurement and Sensor Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, 09126, GermanyFlexible strain sensors based on conductive thermoplastic elastomer composites have garnered significant attention for wearable electronics and soft robotics applications. Among the various material combinations, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their processability and electromechanical properties. However, achieving the desired properties of these strain sensors requires careful selection of materials and meeting specific criteria. In this context, filament strain sensors have been developed by investigating different types of TPU with varying Shore hardnesses from 37 to 71, combined with MWCNTs as a conductive filler through an extrusion process. The fabrication process and characterization techniques are reported, guiding material selection when combining a TPU with a piezoresistive filler to create a soft, stretchable sensor. Characterization of the filament sensors by dynamic tensile testing shows that the sensors have a good piezoresistive response and can detect deformation accurately. Critical parameters such as drift, relaxation behavior, hysteresis and lifetime have extensively evaluated. It has seen that higher Shore hardness decreased the elongation at the point of fracture. In quasi-static cycle testing, Harder TPUs exhibited lower relaxation (4.34) and lower drift (3.72).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425015029Thermoplastic polyurethaneCarbon nanotubePolymer nanocompositeExtrusionFilament sensorFlexible strain sensor |
| spellingShingle | Imen Ayedi Slim Naifar Rajarajan Ramalingame Mario Scholze Martin Wagner Olfa Kanoun Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effects Journal of Materials Research and Technology Thermoplastic polyurethane Carbon nanotube Polymer nanocomposite Extrusion Filament sensor Flexible strain sensor |
| title | Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effects |
| title_full | Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effects |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effects |
| title_short | Enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors: Study of TPU shore hardness effects |
| title_sort | enhancing electromechanical performance of extruded piezoresistive strain sensors study of tpu shore hardness effects |
| topic | Thermoplastic polyurethane Carbon nanotube Polymer nanocomposite Extrusion Filament sensor Flexible strain sensor |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425015029 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT imenayedi enhancingelectromechanicalperformanceofextrudedpiezoresistivestrainsensorsstudyoftpushorehardnesseffects AT slimnaifar enhancingelectromechanicalperformanceofextrudedpiezoresistivestrainsensorsstudyoftpushorehardnesseffects AT rajarajanramalingame enhancingelectromechanicalperformanceofextrudedpiezoresistivestrainsensorsstudyoftpushorehardnesseffects AT marioscholze enhancingelectromechanicalperformanceofextrudedpiezoresistivestrainsensorsstudyoftpushorehardnesseffects AT martinwagner enhancingelectromechanicalperformanceofextrudedpiezoresistivestrainsensorsstudyoftpushorehardnesseffects AT olfakanoun enhancingelectromechanicalperformanceofextrudedpiezoresistivestrainsensorsstudyoftpushorehardnesseffects |