Bubble Sensors for Temperature Measurements through a Colorimetric Approach

Area of Science:

• Materials Science: Development of novel sensing materials.
• Instrumentation: Design of passive temperature sensors.

Background:

• Accurate temperature monitoring is crucial across various scientific and industrial fields.
• Existing methods often require external power sources or are unsuitable for confined spaces.
• Thermochromic materials offer a passive, visual temperature indication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel passive temperature sensor utilizing thermochromic paint-coated bubbles.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance for temperature measurements in challenging environments.
• To analyze the colorimetric properties of thermochromic paint and plastic resin combinations.

Main Methods:

• Thermochromic paint characterization using spectroradiometric measurements.
• Color analysis of plastic resin bubbles with varying thermochromic paint coatings.
• Assessment of sensor response to temperature variations by measuring chromatic coordinates.

Main Results:

• The combination of a red bubble with blue thermochromic paint demonstrated quantifiable color variations.
• This specific combination showed suitability for temperature sensing applications, unlike the blue bubble/red paint alternative.
• Experimental data confirmed distinct changes in chromatic coordinates (C* and h) at the paint's transition temperature (35 °C).

Conclusions:

• The thermochromic bubble sensor presents a viable, power-free solution for temperature monitoring.
• The red bubble/blue paint configuration is recommended for its superior performance.
• Further research is needed to explore reproducibility and a wider range of material combinations.