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Tactile Sensing Using Contact Resistance in MWNT/PDMS Composites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

J. Ian McKelvey ,
Arpad Kormendy  and
L.P. Felipe Chibante
J. Ian McKelvey
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
Arpad Kormendy
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
L.P. Felipe Chibante
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3, Canada
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Abstract

A carbon nanotube polymer composite has been used to develop a flexible multi-touch tactile sensor device. Rather than employing the inherent bulk piezoresistive properties of the composite, the contact resistance between polymer and electrode was exploited to achieve finger pressure measurement with fast response. We have synthesized a series of multi-walled nanotube (MWNT) silicone composites to test the feasibility of a force sensor based on the change in surface contact resistance as a function of applied force. A single layer MWNT/polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS) composite in the range of 1.5-3.0 % w/w nanotubes was employed as a force sensor material in an array of electrodes. It was determined that sensors based on these materials are viable as tactile sensing systems for finger-touch forces in the range of 1-100 N.

Keywords

compositesensorpolymer
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1410: Symposium DD – Transport Properties in Polymer Nanocomposites II , 2012 , mrsf11-1410-dd04-29
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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