%0 Journal Article
%A Arias-Ferreiro, Goretti
%A Lasagabaster Latorre, Aurora
%A Ares-Pernas, Ana
%A Dopico-García, M. Sonia
%A Pereira, N.
%A Costa, P.
%A Lanceros-Méndez, S.
%A Abad Martínez, María José
%T Flexible 3d printed acrylic composites based on polyaniline/multiwalled carbon nanotubes for  piezoresistive pressure sensors
%D 2022
%@ 2199-160X
%U https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/118332
%X The development of tunable UV-curable polymeric composites for functional applications, taking into consideration environmental issues and additive manufacturing technologies, is a research topic with relevant challenges yet to be solved. Herein, acrylic composites filled with 0–3 wt.%. polyaniline/ multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PANI/MWCNT) are prepared by Digital Light Processing (DLP) in order to tailor morphology, thermal, mechanical, and electromechanical properties. Viscosity, real-time infrared spectroscopy, and cure depth tests allow optimizing resin composition for suitable DLP printing. 2 wt.% is the maximum filler content reproducibly embedded in the polymer matrix. The advantages of PANI/MWCNT (50/50 wt.%) compared with single-component composites include safety issues, enhanced printability, increased electrical conductivity and thermal stability, and lower electrical percolation threshold (0.83 wt.%). Above this threshold the composites display excellent piezoresistive response, no hysteresis, and stability for over 400 compression cycles. The pressure sensibility (PS) of 2 wt.% composites decreases with applied pressure from PS ≈ 15 to 0.8 Mpa−1 for maximum pressures of 0.02 and 0.57 MPa, respectively. A proof-of-concept of the functionality of the novel materials is developed in the form of a tactile sensor, demonstrating their potential for pressure sensing applications as cost-effective, sustainable, and flexible materials for printed electronics.
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