LAUSR

Abstract Nanofillers such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) are well known to significantly improve the properties of composites. In this work, CNTs were used as a reinforcing nanofiller in high-temperature vulcanized (HTV) silicone rubber, and room-temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber. At a low CNT content of 3 phr in HTV silicone rubber, the compressive and tensile moduli improved by 65% and 96%, respectively, and the resistance fell to 13 kΩ. Similarly, at 3 phr of CNT in RTV silicone rubber, the compressive and tensile moduli improved by 110% and 105%, respectively, and the resistance fell to 0.4 kΩ. The improved properties were used for applications in piezo-electric actuation and piezo-resistive strain sensors. With increase in voltage supply from 2 kV to 12 kV at 2 phr CNT, the piezoelectric actuation displacement increases to 920% (RTV silicone elastomer slab) and 1025% (HTV silicone elastomer slab). In addition, the rubber-based piezoresistive strain sensors showed a higher gauge factor with RTV silicone rubber than HTV silicone rubber. The piezoresistive strain sensors showed >100% stretchability. A series of experiments demonstrate that the use of CNTs improves the reinforcing, electrical properties, actuation, and strain sensors based on RTV and HTV silicone composites.