Thermochromic polymers for rapid visual assessment of temperature
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting when an article meets or exceeds a specific temperature which comprises:
- treating at least a portion of the article with a composition comprised of a compound having the following structure;
wherein R1-R6=a hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy radical, substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, substituted or unsubstituted thioalkyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted trialkylsilyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted acyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted ester radical, substituted or unsubstituted amine radical, substituted or unsubstituted amide radical, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, n is between 1 and 1000, m is between 0 and 1000, and 1 is between 1 and 1000; and
a carrier medium, the compound having a low temperature color and present in the medium in an amount of about 0.05 to about 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, the structure of the compound designed such that when the composition is placed in a heat-exchange relationship with the article, the low temperature color will change to a high temperature color when the specific temperature is met or exceeded in the article;
the change of the low temperature color to the high temperature color commencing within plus or minus 5-10°
C. below the specific temperature; and
detecting when the article has met or exceeded the specific temperature.
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Abstract
A thermochromic polymer-based temperature indicator composition which comprises a polythiophene and a carrier medium. The composition is characterized in that the polythiophene is present in the medium in an amount of about 0.05 to about 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. The structure of the compound is designed such that when the composition is placed in a heat-exchange relationship with an article, the composition will exhibit a color change when a design temperature or a temperature beyond the design temperature is reached in the article.
58 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of detecting when an article meets or exceeds a specific temperature which comprises:
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treating at least a portion of the article with a composition comprised of a compound having the following structure;
wherein R1-R6=a hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy radical, substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, substituted or unsubstituted thioalkyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted trialkylsilyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted acyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted ester radical, substituted or unsubstituted amine radical, substituted or unsubstituted amide radical, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl or substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical,n is between 1 and 1000, m is between 0 and 1000, and 1 is between 1 and 1000; and
a carrier medium, the compound having a low temperature color and present in the medium in an amount of about 0.05 to about 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, the structure of the compound designed such that when the composition is placed in a heat-exchange relationship with the article, the low temperature color will change to a high temperature color when the specific temperature is met or exceeded in the article;
the change of the low temperature color to the high temperature color commencing within plus or minus 5-10°
C. below the specific temperature; and
detecting when the article has met or exceeded the specific temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A thermochromic polymer-based temperature indicator composition which exhibits a color change when the composition meets or exceeds a specific temperature which comprises:
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a compound comprised of the following structure;
wherein R1-R6=a hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy radical, substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, substituted or unsubstituted thioalkyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted trialkylsilyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted acyl radical, substituted or unsubstituted ester radical, substituted or unsubstituted amine radical, substituted or unsubstituted amide radical, substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical or substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical,n is between 1 and 1000, m is between 0 and 1000, and 1 is between 1 and 1000; and
a carrier medium, the compound having a low temperature color and present in the medium in an amount of about 0.05 to about 5.0% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, the structure of the compound designed such that when the composition meets or exceeds the specific temperature, the low temperature color changes to a high temperature color;
the change of the low temperature color to the high temperature color commencing within plus or minus 5-10°
C. below the specific temperature.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification