Preparation and laser sintering of a thermoplastic polyurethane carbon nanotube composite-based pressure sensor
Yu Zhuang, Yanling Guo, Jian Li, Kaiyi Jiang, Yueqiang Yu, Hui Zhang, Dakun Liu
Abstract
solution blending and ball milling methods, and the dispersion of the CNTs in the composites was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of TPU/CNT composites with different CNT content were measured, and processing parameters used in the SLS were determined based on differential scanning calorimetry measurements. SLS-processed TPU/CNT composites were prepared with different conductivity and piezoresistive properties. Percolation theory and piezoresistive performance results proved that a 0.25 wt% CNT-containing TPU/CNT composite showed the best pressure sensing ability, and it was successfully used as a sensor to detect plantar pressure distribution in a human foot.