Self-sensing and mechanical performance of CNT/GNP/UHMWPE biocompatible nanocomposites
TL;DR: In this article, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) are combined with UHMWPE to form a nearly two-dimensional conductive network.
Abstract: Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based conductive nanocomposites with reduced percolation and tunable piezoresistive behavior were prepared via solution mixing followed by compression molding using carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP). The effect of varying wt% of GNP with fixed CNT content (0.1 wt%) on the mechanical, electrical, thermal and piezoresistive properties of UHMWPE nanocomposites was evaluated. The combination of CNT and GNP enhanced the dispersion in UHMWPE matrix and lowered the probability of CNT aggregation as GNP acted as a spacer to separate the entanglement of CNT with each other. This has allowed the formation of an effective conductive path between GNP and CNT in UHMWPE matrix. The thermal conductivity, degree of crystallinity and degradation temperature of the nanocomposites increased with increasing GNP content. The elastic modulus and yield strength of the nanocomposites were improved by 37% and 33%, respectively, for 0.1/0.3 wt% of CNT/GNP compared to neat UHMWPE. The electrical conductivity was measured using four-probe method, and the lowest electrical percolation threshold was achieved at 0.1/0.1 wt% of CNT/GNP forming a nearly two-dimensional conductive network (critical value, t = 1.20). Such improvements in mechanical and electrical properties are attributed to the synergistic effect of the two-dimensional GNP and one-dimensional CNT which limits aggregation of CNTs enabling a more efficient conductive network at low wt% of fillers. These hybrid nanocomposites exhibited strong piezoresistive response with sensitivity factor of 6.2, 15.93 and 557.44 in the linear elastic, inelastic I and inelastic II regimes, respectively, for 0.1/0.5 wt% of CNT/GNP. This study demonstrates the fabrication method and the self-sensing performance of CNT/GNP/UHMWPE nanocomposites with improved properties useful for orthopedic implants.
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01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites containing a small amount of carbon nanotube (CNT) were successfully predicted based on three-dimensional (3D) statistical percolation and 3D resistor network modeling.
Abstract: The electrical properties of polymer nanocomposites containing a small amount of carbon
nanotube (CNT) are remarkably superior to those of conventional electronic composites. Based on three-dimensional (3D) statistical percolation and 3D resistor network modeling, the electrical properties of CNT nanocomposites, at and after percolation, were successfully predicted in this work. The numerical analysis was also extended to investigate the effects of the aspect ratio, the electrical conductivity, the aggregation and the shape of CNTs on the electrical properties of the nanocomposites. A simple empirical model was also established based on present numerical simulations to predict the electrical conductivity in several electronic composites with various fillers. This investigation further highlighted the importance
of theoretical and numerical analyses in the exploration of basic physical phenomena, such as percolation and conductivity in novel nanocomposites.
291 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, electrical conductivity measurements and modeling aspects of carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer composites enabled via fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing are presented.
Abstract: We present electrical conductivity measurements and modeling aspects of carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer composites enabled via fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing (AM). CNT/polylactic acid (PLA) and CNT/high density polyethylene (HDPE) filament feedstocks were synthesized through melt blending with controlled CNT loading to realize 3D printed polymer nanocomposites. Electrical conductivity of 3D printed CNT/PLA and CNT/HDPE composites was measured for various CNT loadings. Low percolation thresholds were obtained from measured data as 0.23 vol. % and 0.18 vol. % of CNTs for CNT/PLA and CNT/HDPE nanocomposites, respectively. Moreover, a micromechanics-based two-parameter agglomeration model was developed to predict the electrical conductivity of CNT/polymer composites. We further show that the two agglomeration parameters can also be used to describe segregated structures, wherein nanofillers are constrained to certain locations within the matrix. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever electrical conductivity model to account for segregation of CNTs in the matrix. A good agreement between measured conductivity and predictions demonstrates the adequacy of the proposed model. We further evince the robustness of the model by accurately capturing the conductivity measurements reported in the literature for both elastomeric and thermoplastic nanocomposites. The findings of the study would provide guidelines for the design of electro-conductive polymer nanocomposites.
126 citations
Cites methods from "Self-sensing and mechanical perform..."
...In the present study, the percolation threshold has been calculated by plotting the electrical conductivity as a function of the percentage volume fraction of CNTs and performing data fitting with a power law function from percolation theory [5,49,50]:...
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TL;DR: In this paper, the performance of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) reinforced PEEK composites enabled via fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing (AM) utilizing in-house nanoengineered filaments is reported.
Abstract: The study is focused on multifunctional performance of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and Graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) reinforced PEEK composites enabled via fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing (AM) utilizing in-house nanoengineered filaments. Thermo-physical, mechanical and wear characteristics of electro-conductive PEEK nanocomposites are reported. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is found to decrease by 26% and 18% with the incorporation of 5 wt% GNP and 3 wt% CNT into PEEK polymer, respectively. The decrease in CTE provides better dimensional stability to resulting nanocomposite structures. Due to uniform dispersion of CNT and GNP in the PEEK matrix, the crystallization temperature and degree of crystallinity are both increased. The 3D printed PEEK nanocomposites reveal interfacial voids between the beads and intra-bead pores and thus exhibit lower density compared to that of the 3D printed neat PEEK. Young's and storage moduli are found to increase by 20% and 66% for 3 wt% CNT loading and by 23% and 72% for 5 wt% GNP loading respectively. However, the PEEK nanocomposites exhibit similar tensile strength to that of neat PEEK. The coefficient of friction obtained from fretting wear tests is found to decrease by 67% and 56% for 1 wt% CNT and 3 wt% GNP loaded PEEK nanocomposites, respectively and the decrease is attributed to reduced hardness and increased porosity. Multifunctional performance of carbon nanostructures reinforced AM-enabled PEEK composites demonstrated here makes them suitable for a range of applications such as orthopedics, oil and gas, automotive, electronics and space.
107 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report strong, stretchable and ultrasensitive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for piezoresistive strain sensing.
Abstract: We report strong, stretchable and ultrasensitive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanocomposites reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for piezoresistive strain sensing. Uniform dispersion of MWCNT in TPU matrix offers low percolation threshold (0.1 wt%) and superior electrical conductivity. MWCNT/TPU nanocomposites exhibit different sensitivities and measurable strain ranges depending upon MWCNT concentration. Static stretch experiments reveal nearly linear piezoresistive response up to 15%, 35% and 45% strain with gauge factor (GF) of 22, 8.3 and 7.0 for 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 wt% MWCNT loaded TPU nanocomposites, respectively. With further stretching, TPU nanocomposites evince strain-dependent GF of 6395, 6423 and 7935 at 35%, 95% and 185% strain for 0.3, 0.5 and 1.0 wt% MWCNT loading, respectively. Furthermore, we observe improvements in tensile strength, yield strength and Young's modulus of 51%, 37% and 23% for 0.1 wt % MWCNT loading and 10%, 83% and 66% for 0.3 wt % MWCNT loading, respectively. Cyclic stretch/release tests for 0.3 wt% MWCNT loaded nanocomposites show good recoverability and reproducibility over 100 cycles up to a strain-amplitude of 50%. Ultrahigh GF of MWCNT/TPU nanocomposites compared to extant work together with their tuneable sensitivity in both small and large strain regimes, enhanced strength and ease of fabrication make them attractive for high performance strain sensing devices.
76 citations
TL;DR: Recent advances in developing biosensors, drug delivery systems, and implants using CNTs as smart biomaterials to identify pathogens, load/deliver drugs and enhance the mechanical and antimicrobial performance of implants are summarized.
Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have remarkable mechanical, thermal, electronic, and biological properties due to their particular atomic structure made of graphene sheets that are rolled into cylindrical tubes. Due to their outstanding properties, CNTs have been used in several technological fields. Currently, the most prominent research area of CNTs focuses on biomedical applications, using these materials to produce hybrid biosensors, drug delivery systems, and high performance composites for implants. Although a great number of research studies have already shown the advantages of CNT-based biomedical devices, their clinical use for in vivo application has not been consummated. Concerns related to their toxicity, biosafety, and biodegradation still remain. The effect of CNTs on the human body and the ecosystem is not well established, especially due to the lack of standardization of toxicological tests, which generate contradictions in the results. CNTs' toxicity must be clarified to enable the medical use of these exceptional materials in the near future. In this review, we summarize recent advances in developing biosensors, drug delivery systems, and implants using CNTs as smart biomaterials to identify pathogens, load/deliver drugs and enhance the mechanical and antimicrobial performance of implants.
70 citations
References
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TL;DR: Monocrystalline graphitic films are found to be a two-dimensional semimetal with a tiny overlap between valence and conductance bands and they exhibit a strong ambipolar electric field effect.
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...[17] using micromechanical cleavage technique....
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TL;DR: In this article, the amplitude of the intrinsic thermal vibrations of isolated carbon nanotubes was measured in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and it was shown that they have exceptionally high Young's moduli, in the terapascal (TPa) range.
Abstract: CARBON nanotubes are predicted to have interesting mechanical properties—in particular, high stiffness and axial strength—as a result of their seamless cylindrical graphitic structure1–5. Their mechanical properties have so far eluded direct measurement, however, because of the very small dimensions of nanotubes. Here we estimate the Young's modulus of isolated nanotubes by measuring, in the transmission electron microscope, the amplitude of their intrinsic thermal vibrations. We find that carbon nanotubes have exceptionally high Young's moduli, in the terapascal (TPa) range. Their high stiffness, coupled with their low density, implies that nanotubes might be useful as nanoscale fibres in strong, lightweight composite materials.
5,207 citations
"Self-sensing and mechanical perform..." refers background in this paper
...Among various conductive nanofillers evaluated by researchers to be used for polymer composites, graphene and their tubular variants such as carbon nanotubes are the promising carbon-based nanofillers owing to their excellent electrical [7], mechanical [8, 9] and thermal [10, 11] properties and high specific surface area....
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TL;DR: The use of Raman spectroscopy to reveal the remarkable structure and the unusual electronic and phonon properties of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is reviewed comprehensively in this article.
3,835 citations
"Self-sensing and mechanical perform..." refers background in this paper
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TL;DR: An unusually high value, lambda approximately 6600 W/m K, is suggested for an isolated (10,10) nanotube at room temperature, comparable to the thermal conductivity of a hypothetical isolated graphene monolayer or diamond.
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3,011 citations
"Self-sensing and mechanical perform..." refers background in this paper
...Among various conductive nanofillers evaluated by researchers to be used for polymer composites, graphene and their tubular variants such as carbon nanotubes are the promising carbon-based nanofillers owing to their excellent electrical [7], mechanical [8, 9] and thermal [10, 11] properties and high specific surface area....
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TL;DR: In this paper, a comprehensive survey of electrical percolation of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in polymer composites is presented, together with an attempt of systematization.
1,815 citations