Development of a simulator for modelling of electrical and mechanical properties of nanocomposite materials and sensors

A simulator is developed to estimate the electrical conductivity of polymer/nanotube composite layers as well as the change in their resistances under an applied strain. Simulation results are verified using experimental data on SU-8/Multiwall Carbon NanoTube composites. The model is based on conduction through a polymer body due to percolation between the conductive nanotubes. The simulator predicts the nanocomposite conductivity normalized by contact resistance between different filler concentrations. Several devices with different filler concentrations were fabricated on silicon substrates and studied. Experimental results agree with the performance trend that is predicted by the simulator as filler concentration and applied strains were varied independently. The simulator is capable of accounting for nanotube dimensions, polymer physical properties, conduction channel shape, and unevenly distributed forces in the polymer body.