Passive chronometric tamper-indicating device and method

A tamper-indicating device, the tamper-indicating device comprising:

• a substrate;
• an elongate structure comprising a fiber having a diffusion portion disposed on the substrate, wherein the fiber comprises one or more of a polymer fiber and a gel fiber disposed on the substrate and in a rubbery state having a glass transition temperature below an anticipated operating temperature of the tamper-indicating device;
• a penetrant chamber disposed on the substrate adjacent to and at an end of the elongate structure;
• and
• a release mechanism disposed on the substrate adjacent to and at the end of the elongate structure between the elongate structure and the penetrant chamber and separating the elongate structure from the penetrant chamber on the substrate;
• wherein the penetrant chamber is adapted to contain a penetrant material that selectively diffuses into and along a length of the diffusion portion of the fiber from the end of the elongate structure at a predetermined rate when the release mechanism is actuated by a tamper event;
• and
• wherein the penetrant material creates an overt or covert indication of the degree of diffusion into the fiber, the degree of diffusion indicating an amount of time since the tamper event.