Effects of heat, moisture/water, and compressive force on frequency response spectrum of super sensitive carbon nanofiber aggregates (SSCNFA)

Abstract

<p>Cement-based sensors should exhibit accurate measurements of strain with high sensitivity and reliability under various environmental conditions. The ability of such sensors to perform in adverse situations needs to be well developed and critically examined. Cement-based sensors are generally embedded in structural/non-structural concrete components for health monitoring. This paper provides an in-depth study of the performance and response of Super Sensitive Carbon Nanofiber Aggregates (SSCNFA) under challenging and adverse environmental conditions, including different temperature, moisture/water exposure, and compressive forces. The SSCNFA detects changes in temperatures, moist environments, and compressive forces through changes in the electrical impedance. In this study, the change in the total impedance of SSCNFAs are experimentally examined by alternating current (AC) measurements (20 Hz–300 kHz) under various environmental conditions. The thermal tests (21 °C–120 °C) and the impedance recovery tests examine and elaborate the phenomenon of resistance and total impedance reduction. The waterproofing test identifies the suitable polymer to prevent moisture percolating through the SSNCFA. Also, compression tests examine the stress/strain sensing through piezoresistivity in the linear elastic limit of the SSCNFA. The effects of these external conditions in the selective frequency range are measured to monitor the stability, reliability, recovery, and performance of the SSCNFA. The research reveals that the SSCNFA exhibited a linear electrical response against the temperature at higher frequencies (higher or equal to 10 kHz) with a standard deviation of less than 5 %. The SSCNFA's porous structure absorbs moisture during concrete casting. This absorbed moisture will be influenced by the environmental temperature variations and mechanical stresses during the service period of the structure. Additionally, the impedance recovery test results of uncoated SSCNFAs provide insight into the frequency response against the moisture/water and the stability of electrical response at the higher frequencies (higher or equal to 100 kHz). The waterproofing of the SSCNFA using M-coat A and M-coat B (polymers) proves to be effective, with the waterproofed SSCNFA sensor embedded in concrete exhibiting stress-sensing ability due to piezoresistivity. The electrical response of the SSCNFAs is more sensitive to temperature, moisture/water, and compressive stresses at low frequencies with higher standard deviations than at higher frequencies. Therefore, the experiments performed on SSCNFAs show that the SSCNFA embedded in a concrete structure is suitable for structural health monitoring. Furthermore, this research offers various avenues for the application of the SSCNFA as a multifunctional tool for temperature sensing and moisture detection of concrete structures due to cracks at critical locations.</p>