Advanced PP/CNT Monofilaments for Sensory SHM Applications: Influence of Additives and Processing Parameters
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Melt-spun polypropylene/carbon nanotube (PP/CNT) monofilaments hold great promise for use in structural health monitoring (SHM) due to their low density, mechanical flexibility, and piezoresistive properties. However, achieving homogeneous CNT dispersion, optimizing processing parameters, and enhancing strain sensitivity remain key challenges for their practical implementation. This study systematically examines the influence of CNT and carbon black (CB) content as extrinsically conductive fillers, the incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as processing aids, and the effect of extruder screw speeds on the morphology, mechanical properties, and electrical behavior of PP/CNT monofilaments. Spinning pressure measurements reveal PEG effectively reduces spinning pressure. Morphological analysis indicates that higher CNT content results in rougher filament surfaces, while PEG enhances fiber uniformity. Tensile testing demonstrates a strong dependence of Young′s modulus and tensile strength on CNT content and processing parameters, with PEG-modified samples exhibiting improved ductility. Electrical characterization confirmed a stable strain-dependent resistance variation, with gauge factors up to 1.5. Mechanical testing showed that Young’s modulus could be tailored from 0.8 to 16 GPa depending on CNT and PEG content. These results demonstrate the feasibility of producing lightweight PP/CNT monofilaments with tunable electromechanical properties for scalable SHM sensor integration.
Details
| Original language | English |
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| Article number | 5347149 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | International Journal of Polymer Science |
| Volume | 2025 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Aug 2025 |
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
| ORCID | /0000-0003-0423-4093/work/193178011 |
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Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- additives, carbon nanotubes, fiber-based sensors, melt spinning, monofilament, polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene nanocomposites, processing parameters, sensor applications, structural health monitoring (SHM)