New Textile Sensors for In Situ Structural Health Monitoring of Textile Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Based on the Conductive Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) Polymer Complex

Abstract

Many metallic structural and non-structural parts used in the transportation industry can be replaced by textile-reinforced composites. Composites made from a polymeric matrix and fibrous reinforcement have been increasingly studied during the last decade. On the other hand, the fast development of smart textile structures seems to be a very promising solution for in situ structural health monitoring of composite parts. In order to optimize composites’ quality and their lifetime all the production steps have to be monitored in real time. Textile sensors embedded in the composite reinforcement and having the same mechanical properties as the yarns used to make the reinforcement exhibit actuating and sensing capabilities. This paper presents a new generation of textile fibrous sensors based on the conductive polymer complex poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) developed by an original roll to roll coating method. Conductive coating for yarn treatment was defined according to the preliminary study of percolation threshold of this polymer complex. The percolation threshold determination was based on conductive dry films’ electrical properties analysis, in order to develop highly sensitive sensors. A novel laboratory equipment was designed and produced for yarn coating to ensure effective and equally distributed coating of electroconductive polymer without distortion of textile properties. The electromechanical properties of the textile fibrous sensors confirmed their suitability for in situ structural damages detection of textile reinforced thermoplastic composites in real time.

Towards the Functional Ageing of Electrically Conductive and Sensing Textiles: A Review

“…A high oxidation sensitivity during storage on air was reported for PANI, showing an increase from about 500 Ω/5 cm to a saturation level at 3000 Ω/5 cm [ 22 ]. Conductivity loss because of oxidation is also reported for PEDOT:PSS [ 122 ].…”

Melt Spinning of Highly Stretchable, Electrically Conductive Filament Yarns

“…For numerous applications, e.g., in the field of smart textiles and textile sensor and actuator technology, electrically conductive fibers and filaments are of great importance. They are essential for the production of textile-processable sensors [1][2][3] and sensor networks [4] as well as for the transmission of information detected in the device. New developments in the smart textiles sector are inconceivable without electrically conductive fibers.…”

In-Situ Monitoring, Identification and Quantification of Strain Deformation in Composites Under Cyclic Flexural Loading Using Nylon/Ag Fiber Sensor

“…Conductive polymers were first used for in-situ damage monitoring of composites however, their conductivity was less as compared to nano particles and they were unstable under environmental effects [38][39][40][41]. Likewise, inserting or coating conductive nano particles for example graphene, carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), etc.…”