A Review for Conductive Polymer Piezoresistive Composites and a Development of a Compliant Pressure Transducer

This paper presents the development process for a new kind of compliant piezoresistive transducer based on carbon-nanotube-filled silicone rubber composite. The methods for the composite fabrication and the sensor probe encapsulation are specified. The piezoresistive mechanism of the composite is researched based on the tunneling effect theory. The calibration and transforming method is designed based on the piezoresistivity of the composite. The signal processing system is developed to realize the data conversion, acquisition, processing, and pressure displaying. The transducer system is tested within the measurement range from 0 to 2 MPa at room temperature. The measuring error is 4% full scale. The transducer system can be used to measure the interlaminar pressure of the industrial equipment. Its key technologies can also be used to fabricate an electronic skin and a robotic haptic sensing system.