DEVELOPMENT OF ECOFLEX/CARBON BLACK CAPACITIVE STRAIN SENSOR USING ECOFLEX/TIO_{2} COMPOSITE AS DIELECTRIC MATERIAL

• Main Author: Octorian Pamungkas, Dinnur
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknologi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/77489
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

One approach to knowing and controlling the shape and direction of movement of a soft robot is to use a strain sensor. The strain sensor can detect the soft robot's stimulus so that it can adjust the real response of the soft robot's movement. Capacitive strain sensor is one type of strain sensor that has been developed by looking at changes in capacitance values due to strain. In this research, a capacitive strain sensor was developed using a mixture of Ecoflex, carbon black (CB), and palm oil (PO) as the electrode layer and a mixture of Ecoflex and TiO2 as the dielectric material layer. Material selection is based on the properties of elasticity, flexibility, and content that is safe for the body. Ecoflex/CB/TiO2 capacitive strain sensors in this study were fabricated by casting method using 3D printing results. Then the sensor is tested mechanically in the form of tensile strain with the help of a linear motorized stage and the capacitance value is read using an LCR Meter. The test results for Ecoflex/CB/TiO2 capacitive strain sensors show a response with high linearity (0.98-0.996), low hysteresis (0.76-1.21%), good repeatability, good stretchability, but the sensor sensitivity (GF) is low (0.30-0.46). The low sensitivity of the sensor is due to clamping at the end of the sensor so that it is felt to interfere with reading the capacitance value. In addition, the concentration of TiO2 also affects the value of the dielectric constant so that as the concentration of TiO2 increases, the dielectric constant of the dielectric material layer also increases.