Electrical resistance behavior during tensile loading of Al ₂O₃ fiber-nano RuO₂-glass composites

The conductive composites in which nano RuO₂ particles are dispersed throughout a glass matrix have been successfully fabricated by sintering at 850°C. The sensing properties of conductive composites were investigated in real time during tensile testing by measuring the electrical resistance. It is shown that the excellent sensing ability based on electrical resistance changes in the low strain range was due to deformation of conduction paths between nano RuO₂ particles by brittle fracture of the glass matrix. The change of electrical resistance depends strongly on the volume percent of Al₂O₃ fiber reinforcement.