Cocostretch_accepted_version.pdf (1.18 MB)
Coco stretch: strain sensors based on natural coconut oil and carbon black filled elastomers
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 00:32 authored by Don Pasindu Vijai Lugoda, Julio Costa, Leonardo Garcia-GarciaLeonardo Garcia-Garcia, Arash Pour Yazdan Panah Kermani, Zygimantas Jocys, Filippo Spina, Jonathan Salvage, Daniel RoggenDaniel Roggen, Niko MunzenriederA biocompatible inexpensive strain sensor constituting of an elastomer filled with natural coconut oil (CNO) and carbon black (CB) is presented here. Strain sensors are widely utilized for applications in human activity recognition, health monitoring, and soft robotics. Given that these sensors are envisioned to be present in a plethora of fields, it is important that they are low cost, reliable, biocompatible, and eco-friendly. This work demonstrates that CNO can be used to create conductive percolation network in elastomers, without the necessity for harmful chemicals or expensive machinery. The sensor has a gauge factor of 0.77 ± 0.01, and the sensing material has a porous morphology filled with an oily suspension formed of CNO and CB. Results indicate that the liquid filled porous structure can improve the reliability of these resistive strain sensors in comparison to sensors fabricated utilizing commonly used non-polar solvents such as heptane. Consequently, the sensor demonstrates a hysteresis of only 2.41% at 200% strain over 250 stretch/release cycles. Finally, to demonstrate the potential of this fabrication technique, a functionalized glove is developed and used to detect wrist motion. These easily manufacturable and cost-effective sensors enable wearable on-skin ergonomic intervention systems with minimal impact on the environment.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Advanced Materials TechnologiesISSN
2365-709XPublisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
2Volume
6Page range
2000780 1-9Department affiliated with
- Engineering and Design Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-08-06First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-12-11First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-08-05Usage metrics
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