Piezoresistive effect in composite films based on polybenzimidazole and few-layered graphene

The paper reports experimental study of piezoresistive effect in composite films based on polybenzimidazole with few-layered graphene nanoparticles filler. Colloidal dispersions of few-layered graphene (FLG) were obtained by ultrasonic treatment of synthesized FLG in the solution of poly[2,2′-(p-oxydiphenylen)-5,52′-bisbenzimidazole] (OPBI) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Electroconductive films were formed from the dispersions by flow coating. To investigate dependence of electrical resistance on mechanical strain strips of the films were bonded onto beams of uniform strength (in bending) with cyanoacrylate adhesive, the beams being insulated with polymer glue. The strain gauge factors were measured for two films with filler content being 0.75 and 2.00 mass per cent. Electrical resistances were measured by two- and four-point methods, the factors being independent on the method used. The factors are the same within the error for both filler contents and equal to 21 on average.