Piezoresistive Properties of Cement Mortar with Carbon Nanotube
The compressive strength and piezoresistive property of cement mortar with low adding level of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated. Experimental results showed that the compressive strength of the MWCNTs/cement mortars increased with the adding amount of MWCNTs content for all the curing ages. Silica fume promoted the compressive strength development by well bonding with MWCNTs and filling effect. The electrical resistance changed synchronously with the compressive strength and the amount of the changes varied with the stress and MWCNTs addition levels. Higher MWCNTs doping level improved the piezoresistive sensitivity of the mortar. The mortar with silica fume (5-10% by weight of cement) exhibited better piezoresistive response than that without silica fume at the same MWCNTs doping levels.