Corrosivity sensor
First Claim
1. A method of making a corrosivity sensor having a relatively thin non-conductive base with a first conductive element fixed thereto and a second conductive element fixed thereto, the second conductive element being electrically isolated from the first conductive element, comprising the steps of:
- providing the relatively thin non-conductive base with a thin copper layer bonded thereto;
applying resist to shield two distinct areas of the copper layer while leaving the remainder of the copper layer unshielded, the first distinct area comprising a bus bar and a plurality of strips extending therefrom, and the second distinct area comprising a bus bar and a plurality of strips extending therefrom, and being interdigitated with the strips of the first distinct area;
removing the unshielded remainder of the copper layer;
removing the resist to expose the two distinct areas of the copper layer;
electrodepositing a first conductive material onto the first distinct area of the copper layer forming the first conductive element of the corrosivity sensor; and
electrodepositing a second conductive material onto the second distinct area of the copper layer forming the second conductive element of the corrosivity sensor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lightweight corrosivity sensor is provided which is thin enough to be edded between the layers of a composite structure or placed on a surface beneath a coating. It comprises a thin non-conductive base and two electrically isolated conductive elements fixed to the surface thereof. Each conductive element comprises a bus bar and a plurality of strips extending from the bus bar and interdigitated with the strips of the other conductive element. The corrosivity sensor is connectable to a current measuring means for measuring the current across the two conductive elements as an indicator of the presence of a corrosive environment. A masking method of manufacturing such a sensor is also provided.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of making a corrosivity sensor having a relatively thin non-conductive base with a first conductive element fixed thereto and a second conductive element fixed thereto, the second conductive element being electrically isolated from the first conductive element, comprising the steps of:
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providing the relatively thin non-conductive base with a thin copper layer bonded thereto; applying resist to shield two distinct areas of the copper layer while leaving the remainder of the copper layer unshielded, the first distinct area comprising a bus bar and a plurality of strips extending therefrom, and the second distinct area comprising a bus bar and a plurality of strips extending therefrom, and being interdigitated with the strips of the first distinct area; removing the unshielded remainder of the copper layer; removing the resist to expose the two distinct areas of the copper layer; electrodepositing a first conductive material onto the first distinct area of the copper layer forming the first conductive element of the corrosivity sensor; and electrodepositing a second conductive material onto the second distinct area of the copper layer forming the second conductive element of the corrosivity sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of making a corrosivity sensor for use on a substrate, the sensor having a non-conductive base with a first conductive element fixed thereto and a second conductive element fixed thereto, the second conductive element being electrically isolated from the first conductive element, comprising the steps of:
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providing a metal sheet; applying resist to one side of the metal sheet on all but a first area of the metal sheet; electrodepositing a first conductive material onto the first area of the metal sheet to form the first conductive element; applying resist to shield the first conductive element; removing resist to expose only a second area of the metal sheet; electrodepositing a second conductive material onto the second area of the metal sheet to form the second conductive element; removing the remaining resist to leave the first and second conductive elements fixed to the metal sheet; applying a film of adhesive to the substrate to form the non-conductive base; applying the electrodeposited side of the metal sheet to the adhesive film to contact the first and second conductive elements with the adhesive film; and removing the metal sheet to leave the first and second conductive elements fixed to the adhesive film thereby forming a corrosivity sensor on the substrate.
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Specification