Formation of sensors in polymer rand metal-based materials amd composites

In this study, elemental ideas were proposed and demonstrated to realize a couple of smart material systems without using sophisticated and expensive sensors as follows: (1) Commercially available quartz type optical fiber was successfully embedded in aluminum matrix by the interphase forming/bonding method to be used as a sensor. (2) In order to obtain an interference type fiber optic strain sensor in matrix materials without using commercially available expensive one, a unique method was proposed, that is, a pre-notched optical fiber filament was embedded in epoxy resin matrix and was fractured apart in it to form a fiber optic strain sensor. (3) A simple and low cost sensor to detect temperature and strain of aluminum and its composite was proposed and demonstrated, that is, an oxidized nickel wire was embedded in aluminum matrix to form a temperature and strain sensor.