Strain gauge polymer comprising photochromic colorant
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsNaveen Chopra, Rachel Prestayko, Sarah J. Vella
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Abstract
A composite manufacture includes an extrudable thermoplastic matrix and a photochromic colorant, the photochromic colorant conferring to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property. Methods include adding photochromic colorant to an extrudable thermoplastic polymer matrix to form a mixture, heating the mixture to form a composite, the photochromic colorant conferring to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property. The composite manufactures can be used in cable coatings permitting visual detection of mechanical stresses in a wire based on the reversible strain-induced color change property.
Claims20
A composite manufacture comprising:
- an extrudable thermoplastic matrix comprises acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, wherein the ratio of acrylonitrile:butadiene:styrene is from about 15 to about 35 weight %:about 5 to about 30 weight %:about 40 to about 60 weight %, respectively;
- and
- a photochromic colorant having any one of the following structures:
- wherein the photochromic colorant confers to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property, further wherein the composite has a flexural modulus in the range of from less than 2 GPa to about 0.1 GPa.
A method comprising:
- adding photochromic colorant to an extrudible thermoplastic polymer matrix comprises acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene to form a mixture, wherein the ratio of acrylonitrile:butadiene:styrene is from about 15 to about 35 weight %:about 5 to about 30 weight %:about 40 to about 60 weight %, respectively;
- heating the mixture to form a composite;
- wherein the photochromic colorant having any one of the following structures:
- wherein the photochromic colorant confers to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property, further wherein the composite has a flexural modulus in the range of from less than 2 GPa to about 0.1 GPa.
A coated cable comprising a cable coating that permits visual detection of mechanical stresses in a wire, wherein the cable coating comprises a composite comprising:
- an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene matrix wherein the ratio of acrylonitrile:butadiene:styrene is from about 15 to about 35 weight %:about 5 to about 30 weight %:about 40 to about 60 weight %, respectively;
- and
- a photochromic colorant having any one of the following structures:
- wherein the photochromic colorant confers to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property further wherein the composite has a flexural modulus in the range of from less than 2 GPa to about 0.1 GPa.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.