A Novel Sensor for Pitting Corrosion Monitoring and Load Distribution Measurements

In this proposal, AlphaSense, Inc. details the development of a novel sensor for pitting corrosion monitoring and load distribution measurements. The key innovations of this proposal include the following: a) corrosion and load distribution measurements based on the electrical impedance measurements, b) the application of electrical impedance tomography technique to efficiently image the impedance distributions, c) a novel force-sensitive conductive polymer for accurate load distribution measurements, and d) the implementation of compact, low cost and handheld sensor readout electronics using a microcontroller. With such innovations, the merits of the proposed sensor include the following: a) Compact and low cost, b) High sensitivity and large dynamic range, c) High spatial resolution with a small number of sensor elements, d) Minimal interference with the testing articles, e) Physically and chemically robust under the operating environment, and f) High throughput.