Parametric study on the development of substitute materials for stretchable conductive ink (SCI) as a function of conductive filler loading

Mat Yusoff, Shahrul Azim (2022) Parametric study on the development of substitute materials for stretchable conductive ink (SCI) as a function of conductive filler loading. Project Report. Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

	Text (24 Pages) Parametric study on the development of substitute materials for stretchable conductive ink (SCI) as a function of conductive filler loading.pdf - Submitted Version Download (232kB)
	Text (Full text) Parametric study on the development of substitute materials for stretchable conductive ink (SCI) as a function of conductive filler loading.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB)

Abstract

In this study, a 15 µm Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNP) is used as a conductive filler in a Poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) Polystyrene Sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) polymer matrix in formulating the stretchable conductive ink (SCI) in which the Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is used as a substrate. The SCI system sets the GNP filler loading to 5, 7.5 and 10 wt.%. The parametric study includes establishing the optimum temperature, mixing time and mixing speed in the Thinky Mixer centrifugal mixer followed by curing in the oven. The ratio between materials used in the SCI formulation was calculated using the Rule of Mixture (ROM) for composites. The optimum process parameters established in this study are at a curing temperature of 60°C for 15 minutes. The optimum mixing time and speed in the Thinky Mixer is 10 minutes at a mixing speed of 400 rpm. Based on visual observation during the formulation of the SCI, to overcome the presence of brittleness of the cured SCI ink and the bubble formed in the blending of PEDOT: PSS with the GNP filler, surfactants were introduced. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG), and Triton-X100 were included in the optimum SCI formulation before the electrical characterization of the SCI. Based on the electrical characterization via a Four-point probe as per ASTM F390, an optimum average sheet resistivity is attained at a GNP filler loading of 10 wt.%, with a value of 3.97±0.46 Ω/sq., which yield in conductivity of 2518.9 S/m. Surface morphology of the SCI reveal traces of void formation at the lowest GNP filler loading of 5 wt.%, and better homogeneity is evident at increasing GNP filler loading. The preliminary results on the newly formulated SCI using these materials combination suggest a promising potential of the ink f or uses in flexible electronics applications.

Actions (login required)

View Item