A Review on Rubber Nanocomposites for Strain Sensing Applications

Abstract

Rubber nanocomposites play a unique role in modern translational research due to its tunable properties and wide-ranging applications. Rubber is a natural material that finds use in diverse fields, including sanitation, health care, households, energy storage, and sensors. The properties of natural rubber can be modified by preparing nanocomposites with secondary fillers such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and conducting polymers to achieve the desired characteristics. Rubber nanocomposites are sustainable materials that are highly eco-friendly, low-cost, and scalable. A comprehensive review in the area of rubber nanocomposites for strain sensing applications is currently lacking in the literature. This gap motivated us to write a review on rubber nanocomposites for strain sensing applications. Initially, the key properties of rubber nanocomposites are discussed. Subsequently, various synthesis approaches used to prepare rubber nanocomposites are presented. Furthermore, the strain sensing properties of rubber nanocomposites are highlighted, with a detailed discussion on its strain sensing capabilities. This review proclaims the advancement of sustainable rubber nanocomposite-based materials for strain sensing applications, emphasizing their high selectivity, flexibility, and specificity for integration into next-generation on-body wearable electronic devices.