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Magnetoelastic sensors in combination with nanometer-scale honeycombed thin film ceramic TiO2 for remote query measurement of humidity

Ribbonlike magnetoelastic sensors can be considered the magnetic analog of an acoustic bell; in response to an externally applied magnetic field impulse the sensors emit magnetic flux with a characteristic resonant frequency. The magnetic flux can be detected external to the test area using a pick-up coil, enabling query remote monitoring of the sensor. The characteristic resonant frequency of a magnetoelastic sensor changes in response to mass loads. [L.D. Landau and E. M. Lifshitz, Theory of Elasticity, 3rd ed. (Pergamon, New York, 1986). p. 100].Therefore, remote query chemical sensors can be fabricated by combining the magnetoelastic sensors with a mass changing, chemically responsive layer. In this work magnetoelastic sensors are coated with humidity-sensitive thin films of ceramic, nanodimensionally porous TiO2 to make remote query humidity sensors. c2000 American Institute of Physics.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗

Magnetoelastic sensor for analyzing strain

A magnetoelastic sensor is provided for analyzing strain induced by a force causing mechanical deformation of a region of a substrate. The sensor includes a substrate that has a non-deformable region and a mechanically deformable region, the mechanically deformable region coupled to the non-deformable region by a linking structure. The sensor also has a transformer having a magnetic flux guide. The flux guide includes a magnetoelastic section having a magnetoelastic subsection configured to be strainable by deformation of the mechanically deformable region. In transformer embodiments, one or more drive coil and/or pickup coil has a width greater than the minimal width of the linking structure. Sensor embodiments include numerous configurations. The sensor is useful in methods for analyzing strain and force.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Miniaturized Magnetoelastic Sensor System

This article describes the design, assembly, and implementation of a hand-held, magnetic-field-based sensor system that can be adapted for a variety of sensing applications. The miniaturized system is based on Chemical Identification by Magneto-Elastic Sensing (ChIMES) technology, which uses three concentric solenoid coils to wirelessly interrogate a sensor body comprised of a response material coupled to a magnetoelastic wire. The response material expands when it encounters a target, imposing mechanical stress on the wire and altering its magnetic permeability. The sensor bodies are passive, requiring no external power source, and they are small, measuring about 15 mm in length and 3.0 mm in diameter. Up to four sensor bodies can be configured as an evenly-spaced linear array. The sensor system operates by applying a low-frequency, current-stabilized, filtered triangle wave to a uniform-density excitation coil to switch the magnetic domains within the wire. Further, the responses from the sensors are picked up by a detection coil as stress-induced changes in the Faraday voltage, and the strong magnetic field induced by the excitation coil in the detection coil is nullified by a cancellation coil reverse-wound in series with the detection coil. The responses of the sensors in an array are separated in time by a linear gradient dc biasing coil. The sensors can be interrogated through metallic and nonmetallic barriers. The signals from the detection coil and the excitation coil are digitized by a pair of bipolar analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). A Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC) and associated software perform data acquisition and control all aspects of the sensor system hardware. The program allows the user to select the number of sensors in the array, the type of signal that is being collected, and the number of samples to take. The program also allows for signal processing of the sensor data, such as baseline correction. The program can differentiate sensor peaks from each other and calculate the magnitude of each sensor response with less than 1% error. The data are then displayed along with a graph of the signal.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Magnetoelastic sensor for characterizing properties of thin-film/coatings

An apparatus for determining elasticity characteristics of a thin-film layer. The apparatus comprises a sensor element having a base magnetostrictive element at least one surface of which is at least partially coated with the thin-film layer. The thin-film layer may be of a variety of materials (having a synthetic and/or bio-component) in a state or form capable of being deposited, manually or otherwise, on the base element surface, such as by way of eye-dropper, melting, dripping, brushing, sputtering, spraying, etching, evaporation, dip-coating, laminating, etc. Among suitable thin-film layers for the sensor element of the invention are fluent bio-substances, thin-film deposits used in manufacturing processes, polymeric coatings, paint, an adhesive, and so on. A receiver, preferably remotely located, is used to measure a plurality of values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of the sensor element in either characterization: (a) the measure of the plurality of values is used to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value for the sensor element; and (b) the measure of the plurality of successive values is done at a preselected magneto-elastic frequency.

Bachas, Leonidas G.↗

A Passive Magnetoelastic Radiation Sensor

A passive gamma detection technology, consisting of a fielded sensor and a separate analysis system, is described. The sensor is a small cylinder, about 2.5 mm in diameter and 15 mm in length. It requires no onboard power sources or physical connections for power or data transfer, and retains its cumulative response to radiation. The sensor consists of an amorphous magnetoelastic wire held in a longitudinally-stressed state by a radiation-sensitive material. When the radiation-sensitive material is subjected to gamma radiation, it mechanically degrades, relaxing the stress on the wire and lowering the wire’s magnetic permeability. The changes in permeability are observed by switching the magnetic domains in the wire and measuring the reduction in the Faraday voltage as the stress is diminished. The analysis package is built around an excitation-detection coil set and can communicate wirelessly with the sensor through a metallic or nonmetallic barrier at distances up to about 25 mm. The sensor response is linear up to a dose of at least 7 kGy.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Remote query measurement of pressure, fluid-flow velocity, and humidity using magnetoelastic thick-film sensors

Free-standing magnetoelastic thick-film sensors have a characteristic resonant frequency that can be determined by monitoring the magnetic flux emitted from the sensor in response to a time varying magnetic field. This property allows the sensors to be monitored remotely without the use of direct physical connections, such as wires, enabling measurement of environmental parameters from within sealed, opaque containers. In this work, we report on application of magnetoelastic sensors to measurement of atmospheric pressure, fluid-flow velocity, temperature, and mass load. Mass loading effects are demonstrated by fabrication of a remote query humidity sensor, made by coating the magnetoelastic thick film with a thin layer of solgel deposited Al2O3 that reversibly changes mass in response to humidity. c2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗

Effect of surface roughness on liquid property measurements using mechanically oscillating sensors

The resonant frequency and quality factor Q of a liquid immersed magnetoelastic sensor are shown to shift linearly with the liquid viscosity and density product. Measurements using different grade oils, organic chemicals, and glycerol-water mixtures show that the surface roughness of the sensor in combination with the molecular size of the liquid play important roles in determining measurement sensitivity, which can be controlled through adjusting the surface roughness of the sensor surface. A theoretical model describing the sensor resonant frequency and quality factor Q as a function of liquid properties is developed using a novel equivalent circuit approach. Experimental results are in agreement with theory when the liquid molecule size is larger than the average surface roughness. However, when the molecular size of the liquid is small relative to the surface roughness features molecules are trapped, and the trapped molecules act both as a mass load and viscous load; the result is higher viscous damping of the sensor than expected. c2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-NASA Center↗

Magnetoelastic sensing apparatus and method for remote pressure query of an environment

A pressure sensing apparatus for operative arrangement within an environment, having: a sensor comprising a hermetically-sealed receptacle, at least one side of which has an flexible membrane to which a magnetically hard element is attached. Enclosed within the receptacle is a magnetostrictive element that vibrates in response to a time-varying magnetic field. Also included is a receiver to measure a plurality of successive values for magneto-elastic emission intensity of the sensor taken over an operating range of successive interrogation frequencies to identify a resonant frequency value for the sensor. Additional features include: (a) the magnetically hard element may be adhered to an inner or outer side of, or embedded within, the membrane; (b) the magnetostrictive element can include one or more of a variety of different pre-formed, hardened regions; (c) the magneto-elastic emission may be a primarily acoustic or electromagnetic emission; and (d) in the event the time-varying magnetic field is emitted as a single pulse or series of pulses, the receiver unit can detect a transitory time-response of the emission intensity of each pulse (detected after a threshold amplitude value for the transitory time-response is observed). A Fourier transform of the time-response can yield results in the frequency domain. Also, an associated method of sensing pressure of an environment is included that uses a sensor having a magnetostrictive element to identify a magneto-elastic resonant frequency value therefore. Using the magneto-elastic resonant frequency value identified, a value for the pressure of the environment can be identified.

Grimes, Craig A.↗

Induced Anisotropy in FeCo-Based Nanocrystalline Ferromagnetic Alloys (HITPERM) by Very High Field Annealing

Very high magnetic field annealing is shown to affect the magnetic anisotropy in FeCo-base nanocrystalline soft ferromagnetic alloys. Alloys of composition Fe(44.5)Co(44.5)Zr(7)B(4) were prepared by melt spinning into amorphous ribbons, then wound to form toroidal bobbin cores. One set of cores was crystallized in a zero field at 600 deg. C for 1 h, then, field annealed at 17 tesla (T) at 480 deg. C for 1 h. Another set was crystallized in a 17-T field at 480 deg. C for 1 h. Field orientation was transverse to the magnetic path of the toroidal cores. An induced anisotropy is indicated by a sheared hysteresis loop. Sensitive torque magnetometry measurements with a Si cantilever sensor indicated a strong, uniaxial, longitudinal easy axis in the zero-field-crystallized sample. The source is most likely magnetoelastic anisotropy, caused by the residual stress from nanocrystallization and the nonzero magnetostriction coefficient for this material. The magnetostrictive coefficient lambda(5) is measured to be 36 ppm by a strain gage technique. Field annealing reduces the magnitude of the induced anisotropy. Core loss measurements were made in the zero-field-crystallized, zero-field-crystallized- than-field-annealed, and field-crystallized states. Core loss is reduced 30%-50% (depending on frequency) by field annealing. X-ray diffraction reveals no evidence of crystalline texture or orientation that would cause the induced anisotropy. Diffusional pair ordering is thought to be the cause of the induced anisotropy. However, reannealing the samples in the absence of a magnetic field at 480 deg. C does not completely remove the induced anisotropy.

FERROMAGNETIC ALLOYS↗

Mössbauer Study and Curie Temperature Configuration on Sintering Nano-Ni-Zn Ferrite Powder

Variations of Curie temperature and strength of magnetic phases with sintering temperature and Ni concentration is investigated in the present work. The AC susceptibility studies show a decrease in Curie temperature (TC) with an increase in Ni concentration in the samples. Comparison of Curie temperatures with the reported results reveals that samples in the present work show higher TC enabling high thermal stability. The Mössbauer spectra of nano- and sintered Ni-Zn ferrite samples were recorded at room temperature to monitor the local environment around Fe cations through Mössbauer hyperfine parameters as a function of composition and sintering temperatures. The increase in sharpness of the Mössbauer sextet with an increase in Ni concentration and sintering temperature corroborate improvement in homogeneity and ferrimagnetic ordering. The results of hyperfine parameters offer the possibility of having close view on configuring Curie temperature through monitoring hyperfine field by altering sintering temperature and/or Ni concentration. As the temperature dependence of magnetic and magnetoelastic properties is strongly influenced by the Curie temperature, the successful possible configuration of Curie temperature in the present work can be further investigated for desired sensor applications.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Voltage-Controlled Differential Faraday Rotation from FMNWs and Magnetoelastic Silicone-Nickel Composites

Differential Faraday rotation has been observed from strain-Differential Faraday rotation has been observed from strain-modulated magnetoelastic membranes using millimeter-wave polarimetry at 61.25 GHz. The membranes, consisting of aligned chains of nickel micro-particles embedded in silicone rubber, were manufactured using a roll-to-roll electromagnetic processing line, mounted onto piezoelectric ceramic annuli, and immersed in externally-generated static magnetic fields. Experiments were conducted in which the membranes were periodically stretched by operating the piezoelectric crystals close to their radial resonant frequencies—thereby modulating nickel particle density as well as magnetic material properties. A customized quasi-optical apparatus was used to determine the Faraday-rotation difference between the strained and unstrained states of the magnetoelastic membranes. Possible applications that could emerge from this polymer-based technology include nonreciprocal millimeter-wave components with voltage-controlled frequency response and bio-inspired geomagnetic sensors for GPS-denied navigation. Investigations were conducted to estimate the maximum attainable differential Faraday rotation and the minimum detectable static magnetic field.

nickel↗

Sensors and sensor systems for guidance and navigation II; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Apr. 22, 23, 1992

Topics discussed in this volume include aircraft guidance and navigation, optics for visual guidance of aircraft, spacecraft and missile guidance and navigation, lidar and ladar systems, microdevices, gyroscopes, cockpit displays, and automotive displays. Papers are presented on optical processing for range and attitude determination, aircraft collision avoidance using a statistical decision theory, a scanning laser aircraft surveillance system for carrier flight operations, star sensor simulation for astroinertial guidance and navigation, autonomous millimeter-wave radar guidance systems, and a 1.32-micron long-range solid state imaging ladar. Attention is also given to a microfabricated magnetometer using Young's modulus changes in magnetoelastic materials, an integrated microgyroscope, a pulsed diode ring laser gyroscope, self-scanned polysilicon active-matrix liquid-crystal displays, the history and development of coated contrast enhancement filters for cockpit displays, and the effect of the display configuration on the attentional sampling performance.

Welch, Sharon S.↗

Room temperature giant magnetostriction in single-crystal nickel nanowires

Magnetostriction is the emergence of a mechanical deformation induced by an external magnetic field. The conversion of magnetic energy into mechanical energy via magnetostriction at the nanoscale is the basis of many electromechanical systems such as sensors, transducers, actuators, and energy harvesters. However, cryogenic temperatures and large magnetic fields are often required to drive the magnetostriction in such systems, rendering this approach energetically inefficient and impractical for room-temperature device applications. Here, we report the experimental observation of giant magnetostriction in single-crystal nickel nanowires at room temperature. We determined the average values of the magnetostrictive constants of a Ni nanowire from the shifts of the measured diffraction patterns using the 002 and 111 Bragg reflections. At an applied magnetic field of 600 Oe, the magnetostrictive constants have values of λ 100 = -0.161% and λ 111 = -0.067%, two orders of magnitude larger than those in bulk nickel. Using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI), we obtained the three-dimensional strain distribution inside the Ni nanowire, revealing nucleation of local strain fields at two different values of the external magnetic field. Our analysis indicates that the enhancement of the magnetostriction coefficients is mainly due to the increases in the shape, surface-induced, and stress-induced anisotropies, which facilitate magnetization along the nanowire axis and increase the total magnetoelastic energy of the system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗