Development of Filled Immiscible Polymers Blend Monofilaments for Water Detection in Composite

Abstract

In order to avoid environmental pollution by effluents, the incorporation of electrical conductive yarns in a waterproof membrane allows detecting a leak or crack on industrial concrete structure. The membrane is made of composite materials: a glass textile structure equipped with the detector yarns and molded in an epoxy resin. The liquid’s detection and the data’s transmission depend on the yarn’s conductivity variation and its chemical and physical properties. This study aims to develop a water detector monofilament from conductive polymer composites (CPC): an immiscible polymers blend (polyamide 6.6/elastomer) filled with carbon nanotubes (CNT). The addition of elastomer in the CPC yarn is important to withstand the mechanical deformation of the resin structure without breaking. The morphology of the immiscible polymers blend and the localization of the CNT influence the electrical conductivity of the yarn and thus, its property of water detection. Two principles of water detection are investigated with this blend: the short circuit and the absorption. For the short circuit, the presence of liquid is detected when the liquid creates a conductive path between two yarns in parallel. While, the absorption principle is based on the conductivity variation with the yarn’s swelling in contact with water.