Development and characterization of fast responding pressure sensitive microspheres

The response times of pressure sensitive paint (PSP) and pressure sensitive microspheres to passing shockwaves were measured to investigate their ability to accurately determine pressure changes in unsteady flows. The PSPs tested used platinum tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphine (PtTFPP), platinum octaethylporphine (PtOEP), and a novel set of osmium-based organometallic complexes as pressure sensitive luminophors incorporated into polymer matrices of dimethylsiloxane bisphenol A-polycarbonate block copolymer or polystyrene. Two types of pressure sensitive microspheres were used, the first being PtOEP-doped polystyrene microspheres (PSBeads) and the second being porous silicon dioxide microspheres containing the novel, pressure sensitive osmium complexes. Response times for the platinum-based PSPs ranged from 47.2 to 53.0 micros, while the osmium-based PSPs ranged between 37.6 and 58.9 micros. For the microspheres, 2.5 microm diameter PSBeads showed a response time of 3.15 ms, while the osmium-based silicon dioxide microspheres showed a response time ranging between 13.6 and 18.9 micros.