Piezoresistive Behavior of Graphene Nanoplatelets/Carbon Black/Silicone Rubber Nanocomposite

Silicon rubber (SR) filled with carbon black (CB) and carbon black (CB)/graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) hybrid fillers are synthesized via a liquid mixing method. The effects of filler type on the electrical properties and piezoresistive properties (near the region of the percolation) of the conductive SR composites are studied. It is suggested that the conductivity of the composite filled with CB/GNPs hybrid fillers in the mass ratio of 2 : 4 is much higher than that in other ratio. Percolation threshold for CB/GNPs/SR is found to be 0.18 volume fractions lower than CB/SR. Moreover, force rang and linearity of GNPs/CB/SR is higher than CB alone filling system. And the repeatability of the GNPs/CB/SR composites is better than CB/SR. Not repetitive index (ez) of them is 0.1 and 0.18, respectively. The results suggest that the GNPs/CB/SR composites provide a new route toward fabrication of flexible piezoresistive sensors with high performance. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39778.