Impedance Analysis of Silicone Rubber Filled by Electrically Conductive Nanoparticles

During the research, scanning electron microscopy, compression, tensile and frequency analysis were performed on silicone rubbers filled with conductive particles , in order to understand the electrical conduction mechanism. The distribution of the conductive nanoparticles and its relationship with the substrate was examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). During the SEM studies, the conductive elastomers were investigated in their deformed and original state too. The connection between the deformation and the resistivity was examined with compression and tensile tests. The impedance of the material was examined on a wide range of frequency. The correctness of the lumped parameter model that is mentioned in the literature , was examined and its parameters were determined. The dependence of the resistivity on the aspect ratio of the specimens was also investigated. The aim of this research is to make this construction material intelligent, and to use it to produce hyperelastic mechanical sensors (for strain, force, torque, ect. measuring).