Strain gauges
AssigneesCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, The Commonwealth of Australia as represented by The Defence Science and Technology Organization of the Dept. of Defence
InventorsJan Hermann, Burkhard Raguse, Torsten Reda, Alan Richard Wilson
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Abstract
The present invention provides a strain gauge comprising a resistive layer. The resistive layer comprises metallic or semiconducting nanoparticles or aggregates thereof in which the nanoparticles or aggregates thereof are separated by insulating and/or semiconducting material.
Claims12
A method of measuring strain in a surface under test, the method comprising the steps of:
- (i) applying to the surface under test a strain gauge comprising a resistive layer deposited on a nanoporous membrane, the resistive layer comprising metallic or semiconducting functionalised nanoparticles or aggregates thereof in which the functionalised nanoparticies or aggregates thereof are separated by insulating and/or semiconducting material;
- (ii) measuring a change in the resistance of the strain gauge;
- and
- (iii) determining the strain in the surface under test from the change in resistance of the strain gauge.
A method of measuring strain in a surface under test, the method comprising the steps of;
- (i) applying to the surface under test a strain gauge comprising a resistive layer, the resistive layer comprising metallic or semiconducting functionalised nanoparticles or aggregates thereof wherein the nanoparticles or aggregates thereof are functionalised by forming capping layers surrounding the nanoparticles in a sell-assembly process, said capping layers being formed using capping agents selected from the group consisting of monothiol capping agents, mercaptoacetic acid, dithioglycolic acid, alkyl dithiols and organic sulphur compounds;
- (ii) measuring a change in the resistance of the strain gauge;
- and
- (iii) determining the strain in the surface under test from the change in resistance of the strain gauge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.