Effect of the concentration of magnetite on the structure, electrical and magnetic properties of a polyester resin-based composite

Se reporta el efecto de la concentración de polvos de magnetita (Fe3O4) sobre las propiedades eléctricas y magnéticas de un material compuesto a base de resina de poliéster termoestable. Las muestras se elaboraron mediante el método de colado manual en concentraciones de: 60-40, 70-30, 80-20, 90-10 y 100-0 (% en peso), donde la fase mayoritaria es la resina y la minoritaria los óxidos de Fe3O4. La estructura cristalina se estudió usando la técnica de difracción de rayos X y la caracterización superficial tuvo lugar a través de la técnica de microscopía electrónica de barrido. Se midió la respuesta eléctrica por medio de curvas de polarización eléctrica en función del campo eléctrico y de resistividad eléctrica volumétrica a través de un electrómetro. La respuesta magnética se determinó mediante curvas de magnetización en función de la intensidad de campo magnético aplicado y en función de la temperatura. El análisis estructural indica que el porcentaje de cristalinidad aumenta a medida que se adiciona la concentración de Fe3O4 a las muestras. La caracterización eléctrica del material evidencia que la resistividad volumétrica disminuye con el incremento de magnetita, mostrando una transición aislante-conductor, con valores de la constante dieléctrica cada vez mayores. La caracterización magnética evidencia un aumento lineal de la magnetización de saturación y del momento magnético en función de la cantidad de magnetita adicionada a la matriz polimérica, mientras que la coercitividad evidencia comportamientos de materiales magnéticos blandos tanto en T˃TV como en T<TV, donde TV representa la temperatura de Verwey.This study reports the effect of the concentration of magnetite powders (Fe3O4) on the electrical and magnetic properties of a resin-based composite of thermoset polyester. The samples were prepared by the casting method at different concentrations: 60-40, 70-30, 80-20, 90-10 and 100-0 (% in weight), where the primary phase was resin and the secondary, Fe3O4 powders. The crystalline structure was studied using X-ray diffraction and surface characterization was carried out applying the scanning electron microscopy technique. The electrical response was measured by electric polarization curves as a function of the electric field; and the volumetric electrical resistivity, by an electrometer. The magnetic response was determined by magnetization curves as a function of temperature and intensity of the applied magnetic field. The structural analysis indicates that crystallinity increases as higher concentrations of Fe3O4 are added to the samples. The electrical characterization of the material reveals that the volumetric resistivity decreases as the content of magnetite increases. These reactions indicate an insulation-conductor transition with increasing dielectric constant values. The magnetic characterization presents a linear increase of the saturation of magnetization and magnetic moment as a function of the amount of magnetite added to the polymer matrix, whereas the coercivity shows behaviors of soft magnetic materials for T ˃ Tv and for T < Tv, where Tv represents the temperature of Verwey

Enhancing Part-to-Part Repeatability of Force-Sensing Resistors Using a Lean Six Sigma Approach

Polymer nanocomposites have found wide acceptance in research applications as pressure sensors under the designation of force-sensing resistors (FSRs). However, given the random dispersion of conductive nanoparticles in the polymer matrix, the sensitivity of FSRs notably differs from one specimen to another; this condition has precluded the use of FSRs in industrial applications that require large part-to-part repeatability. Six Sigma methodology provides a standard framework to reduce the process variability regarding a critical variable. The Six Sigma core is the DMAIC cycle (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control). In this study, we have deployed the DMAIC cycle to reduce the process variability of sensor sensitivity, where sensitivity was defined by the rate of change in the output voltage in response to the applied force. It was found that sensor sensitivity could be trimmed by changing their input (driving) voltage. The whole process comprised: characterization of FSR sensitivity, followed by physical modeling that let us identify the underlying physics of FSR variability, and ultimately, a mechanism to reduce it; this process let us enhance the sensors’ part-to-part repeatability from an industrial standpoint. Two mechanisms were explored to reduce the variability in FSR sensitivity. (i) It was found that the output voltage at null force can be used to discard noncompliant sensors that exhibit either too high or too low sensitivity; this observation is a novel contribution from this research. (ii) An alternative method was also proposed and validated that let us trim the sensitivity of FSRs by means of changing the input voltage. This study was carried out from 64 specimens of Interlink FSR402 sensors