Active nanocomposites

Measuring mechanical deformation with conductive nanocomposites

Normally, composites of elastomers and conductive carbon particles are used if the material is to be and remain conductive. This is how antistatic shoe soles or seals are produced, for example. In the DFG-funded AggloSense project, on the other hand, we want to achieve the opposite: maximum change in electrical conductivity upon deformation.
To this end, in cooperation with Professor Tanja Schilling from the University of Freiburg, we are investigating what the conductivity of such composites actually depends on. Carbon particles (so-called "carbon black") are in fact not spheres, but very complex shaped agglomerates with an often fractal structure. In the material, they touch each other in ways that are difficult to predict. By comparing the structure of purposefully fabricated materials with simulated arrangements and measurements of conductivity with and without deformation, we hope to find out how to make the change in conductivity large.