Electrical Resistance, Stability and Mechanical Properties of PVC Composites Containing Graphite and Semiconductor for Sensor Technologies

This study aimed to obtain a novel PVC-based composite that is conductive or semiconductor and especially flexible and to reveal its properties.The doping materials were graphite and ZnO. To create more homogenous composites, it is used a nonionic surfactant such as Tritone X-100. The electrical resistance of the materials in each test step was measured and tensile strength tests were also performed to evaluate mechanical properties. Nüve-TK252 Humidification, Schloeder SESD30000 Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), Hioki RM3548 electrical resistance, Nüve FN120 and FR590 Thermal Shock devices, ,Shimadzu EHF-LV020K2-020 for tensile testing and Thermo Scientific Apreo S (SEM) were used to characterize the samples. For the light test, was also used a solar simulator with 1000 W xenon lamp. As a result, it has been found that electrical resistance of materyale with high graphite levels without zinc oxide have greater stability. The electrical resistance of the materials with ZnO additive have decreased considerably, increased their conductivity, in special stimuli such as light and electricity. Thus, this novel semiconductor can be using as a sensor. P3G2Z (Higher PVC ratio) has a huge change in conductivity after electrostatic discharge. By the way, the highest difference in conductivity was also observed in P3G2Z. Under solar irradiation, it was observed that the resistance of the P2G3Z and P1G1Z composite materials decreased approximately 81 and 23 times, respectively. It proves that these materials have passed into the photosensitive semiconductor state. Obtaining electrical and mechanical data of new composites with doping of PVC polymer with graphite and zinc oxide nanoparticles at different rates will make a great contribution to the sensor, robot, automotive and defense industries. In conclusion, the outputs of this study, flexible, sensitized, conductive composites will offer new horizons for fields such as the sensor and actuator industries that drived system control mechanisms.