Characterization and optimization of polymer-ceramic pressure-sensitive paint by controlling polymer content

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Aerospace Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Pressure-sensitive paints (PSPs) are crucial for non-intrusive aerodynamic measurements.
• Developing PSPs with rapid response times is essential for capturing dynamic flow phenomena.
• Sprayable PSP formulations offer practical advantages for coating complex test articles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of polymer content on the performance characteristics of a sprayable PSP.
• To optimize PSP formulation for enhanced signal level, pressure sensitivity, temperature dependency, and time response.
• To introduce a weight coefficient for fine-tuning PSPs for specific sensing requirements.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a PSP comprising a sprayable polymer and porous particles.
• Systematically varied polymer content from 10% to 90%.
• Evaluated PSP performance metrics including signal level, pressure sensitivity, temperature dependency, and time response.

Main Results:

• Signal level and temperature dependency exhibited a peak at 50-70% polymer content.
• Pressure sensitivity remained consistent at 0.8-0.9 %/kPa across tested ranges.
• Lower polymer content significantly improved the time response, achieving millisecond to second ranges.

Conclusions:

• Polymer content is a critical factor in tailoring PSP performance.
• A balance between polymer content and porous particles is key for optimal fast-response PSPs.
• The introduced weight coefficient provides a method for optimizing PSPs for diverse sensing applications.