PIEZOELECTRIC PRESSURE TRANSDUCER TECHNIQUE FOR OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERES

The diaphragm sensing tip of a high-speed piezoelectric pressure transducer can be destroyed when measuring transient impulse pressures in hot oxidizing atmospheres, e.g., oxygen at 3000 K and 34 atm for times of tens of milliseconds. A technique is presented to preserve the transducer under these conditions, which uses a protective layer of 0.025-0.050-mm-thick brass foil, held in place with double-sided tape. The integrity of the transducer is preserved, and the response time to a shock wave is increased from 1 to 2-6-mu-s using the technique.