Natural rubber-based nanocomposites for strain and pressure sensing in healthcare applications
Journal
Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers
Start Page
106762
ISSN
18761070
Date Issued
2026
Author(s)
Suwanphiphat, Supakorn
Yang, Jia-Yu
Chuang, Cheng-Hsin
Kitsawat, Veerapat
Siri, Saranrat
Li, Po-Kuan
Li, Cheng-Ying
Alagarsamy, Saranvignesh
Phisalaphong, Muenduen
Abstract
Background : The increasing demand for eco-friendly and multifunctional materials in wearable healthcare devices has driven the development of flexible sensors capable of reliable biomechanical monitoring. Natural rubber (NR), as a renewable elastomer, offers elasticity and biodegradability, yet its insulating nature limits its direct use in soft electronics. Incorporating conductive nanofillers like graphene, with biocompatible chitosan as a dispersing agent, can overcome this limitation while adding antimicrobial functionality desirable for skin-contact applications. Methods : A sustainable NR/chitosan/graphene nanocomposite film was fabricated via aqueous micro-dispersion and thin-film casting, followed by screen-printing of silver electrodes to form strain and pressure sensors. Chitosan promoted uniform graphene dispersion, verified by synchrotron X-ray tomography. The resulting piezoresistive performance was examined under tensile and compressive stimuli, along with thermal conductivity, antimicrobial activity, and cyclic stability. The device was further evaluated through simulated tremor-motion monitoring to demonstrate healthcare applicability. Significant Findings : The film exhibited stable conductivity (∼10−4 S/cm) and excellent piezoresistive response, with gauge factors of 142.5 (tensile) and 11.25 (compressive) at a detection limit of 2.5 % strain. It showed minimal hysteresis, rapid response, and maintained performance over 8000 cycles. Thermal conductivity behavior remained nearly temperature-independent (1.436 W/m ⋅ K). The nanocomposite also displayed strong antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, Escherichia coli , and A. niger . These results demonstrate a scalable, environmentally compatible material platform for durable and multifunctional wearable sensing in healthcare applications.
Subjects
Nanocomposites
Natural rubber
Piezoresistivity
Pressure sensor
Strain sensor
Publisher
Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers
Type
journal article