Super-hydrophobic, durable and cost-effective carbon black/rubber

composites for high performance strain sensors

Yang Chen a, &, Ling Wang a, &, Zefeng Wu a, Junchen Luo a, Bei Li a, Xuewu Huang a,

Huaiguo Xue a, Jiefeng Gao*a,b,c

a School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou,

Jiangsu, 225002, China

b State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering Sichuan University,

Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, P. R. Chinac Yangzhou Shuguang Cable Co., Ltd, Gaoyou, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225007, China

*Corresponding authors: jfgao@yzu.edu.cn;

Author contributions

& These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first

authors

Fig. S1 (a) Surface morphology of RB/CBNPs-25. (b) The cross-sectional SEM image of RB. (c) The magnified cross-sectional SEM image of RB/CBNPs-25/PDMS-30.

Fig. S2 (a) The thermal gravity analysis curve of RB, RB/CBNPs, RB/CBNPs/PDMS. (b) Differential thermal gravity curve of RB, RB/CBNPs, RB/CBNPs/PDMS.

Table S1 Mechanical properties of the different RB based samples

Nanofiber based Sample

Tensile strength(MPa)

Yong’s modulus(MPa)

Elongation at break(%)

RB

8.9±0.6 1.29±0.2 1014±33.5

RB/CBNPs 9.9±0.3 1.1±0.1 784.3±41.1

RB/CBNPs/PDMS 10.6±0.7 1.3±0.1 1003.2±54.8

Table S2 Selected parameters extracted from our work and the reported

papers on strain gauge sensors

Matrix Conductivefillers

Elongation at break

Gaugefactor

Referencesand year

Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)

Hybrid carbonnanofillers

320% 13.1 2018 [1]

Elastic band CNTs 920% 129.2 2018 [2]

Thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU)

SWNTs/MWNTs 100% 1.24 2018 [3]

Carbonized silk fabrics (CSFs)

N.A. 52% 37.5 2016 [4]

Elastic ecoflex CNT fibers 960% 64 2015 [5]

Chewing gum MWCNTs 700% 25 2015 [6]

Polyurethane(PU)-poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophen

e) polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS)

SWCNTs 100% 50.8 2015 [7]

Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)

3D thin graphite foam (TGF)

100% 52 2017 [8]

Silicone composite Carbonized nano-sponge (CNS)

60% 8.37 2017 [9]

Natural rubber Liquid-exfoliated graphene

800% 35 2014 [10]

Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)

CB 30% 15.75 2016 [11]

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)

CNTs 240% 1.1 2017 [12]

Elastic cotton/polyurethane (PU) core-spun yarn

SWCNTs 300% 2.15 2016 [13]

Polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)

Graphene foam 50% 98.66 2016 [14]

Conductive coaxial fibers SWCNTs 250% 425 2018 [15]

Rubber band CB 980% 242.6 2019This work

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