Pressure Measurement Material Using Microcapsule Color Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pressure measurement materials fail to provide sufficient color density at pressures below 0.1 MPa, limiting their ability to measure minute pressure changes and pressure distributions essential for high-function and high-fineness products.
Innovation Solution
A pressure measurement material with a color-forming layer containing microcapsules of a colorless electron-donating dye precursor and an electron-accepting compound, optimized with specific microcapsule size distribution and wall thickness, allowing for visible and readable color density differences at pressures as low as 0.05 MPa.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional pressure measurement materials with color forming reaction are used, then measurement capability is provided for pressure range of 0.1 to 20 MPa, but sufficient color density cannot be achieved at pressures below 0.1 MPa
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the microcapsules, specifically controlling the diameter to be 10 μm or less and optimizing the wall thickness ratio (δ/D) to be 1.0 × 10^-3 or less. These parameter changes enable the microcapsules to break at lower pressures (0.05 MPa or less) while maintaining sufficient color density, thereby extending the measurable pressure range down to minute pressures without sacrificing color visibility.
2Measurement precision
If microcapsule size is reduced to detect minute pressure, then sensitivity to low pressure increases, but color density and readability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes two critical parameters simultaneously: microcapsule diameter (10 μm or less) and wall thickness ratio (δ/D ≤ 1.0 × 10^-3). This dual parameter optimization ensures that the microcapsules are sufficiently small to break at minute pressures while maintaining appropriate wall thickness to preserve color density and readability upon breaking.
3Measurement precision
If number of microcapsules per unit area is increased to improve measurement resolution, then measurement precision improves, but capsules are less likely to break due to mutual contact and suppression of deformation volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of individual microcapsules (smaller diameter of 10 μm or less and optimized wall thickness ratio) to compensate for the reduced breaking probability caused by high capsule density. The smaller size and optimized wall structure enable capsules to break more easily even when densely packed, maintaining both measurement resolution and reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate measurement of pressure distribution at minute pressures, improving visibility and readability, particularly in the range of 0.05 MPa or less, by controlling microcapsule density and diameter distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a color forming reaction between a colorless electron-donating dye precursor and an electron-accepting compound
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a material for pressure measurement which utilizes a color forming reaction between a colorless electron-donating dye precursor and an electron-accepting compound to form color, and having a color density difference (ΔD) of 0.02 or more before and after pressurization at 0.05 MPa. When the colorless electron-donating dye precursor is included in microcapsules and the median diameter of the microcapsules on a volume basis is A µm, 5000 to 30000 microcapsules having a diameter of (A + 5) µm or more are present per 2 cm × 2 cm area.