Utilization of polymer viscoelastic properties to enhance acoustic wave sensor performance

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6947120

Frye, G C; Martin, S J

Polymer films are commonly used as the sorptive layer for preparing chemical sensors using surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. Absorption of chemical species into these polymer coatings results in plasticization (i.e., softening) of the polymer. We have demonstrated that SAW devices are sensitive to the resulting changes in viscoelastic properties, especially due to the onset of a film resonance. This film resonance occurs when the inertial phase lag across the film approaches [pi]/2. Based on understanding these acoustic wave/polymer film interactions and the resulting changes in wave velocity and attenuation, device sensitivity can be significantly increased and the ability to utilize both responses to discriminate between isolated chemical species with a single SAW device can be improved.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6947120
• Report Number(s): SAND-92-2450C; CONF-9305124--2; ON: DE93008345
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102 -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
440800* -- Miscellaneous Instrumentation-- (1990-)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ACOUSTIC MONITORING
ATTENUATION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COATINGS
ELASTICITY
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MONITORING
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TENSILE PROPERTIES
VELOCITY
VISCOSITY