Reusable polymer optical fiber strain sensor with memory capability based on ABS crazing.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optoelectronics
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Polymer optical fibers (POFs) are increasingly utilized in sensing applications.
• Developing POFs with memory capabilities can enhance their functionality for strain sensing.
• Understanding the mechanisms behind stress-induced changes in POFs is crucial for sensor development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a reusable polymer optical fiber (POF) strain sensor with memory capability.
• To investigate the stress whitening phenomenon in an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) core POF for strain sensing.
• To characterize the performance and reusability of the developed POF sensor under various loading conditions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a POF with an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) core and polymethylmethacrylate cladding.
• Inducing stress whitening in the ABS core through mechanical loading (transverse compression, macrobending, tensile loading).
• Assessing the memory capability and reusability via thermal recovery near the ABS glass transition temperature and optical property measurements.

Main Results:

• The POF exhibits memory capability due to stress whitening in the ABS core, reversible by thermal treatment.
• Optical properties of the fiber could be restored to near-pristine conditions after thermal recovery.
• The sensor accurately assessed indentation, flexural, and tensile loads, both static and cyclical, even post-load removal.

Conclusions:

• The developed POF strain sensor demonstrates reusability and memory capability, crucial for advanced sensing.
• The study provides insights into the memory mechanisms in POFs, particularly stress whitening in ABS.
• This work paves the way for novel large-strain sensors in modern technological applications.