Preparation and laser sintering of a thermoplastic polyurethane carbon nanotube composite-based pressure sensor

solution blending and ball milling methods, and the dispersion of the CNTs in the composites was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The thermal properties of TPU/CNT composites with different CNT content were measured, and processing parameters used in the SLS were determined based on differential scanning calorimetry measurements. SLS-processed TPU/CNT composites were prepared with different conductivity and piezoresistive properties. Percolation theory and piezoresistive performance results proved that a 0.25 wt% CNT-containing TPU/CNT composite showed the best pressure sensing ability, and it was successfully used as a sensor to detect plantar pressure distribution in a human foot.