Humidity and Isopropyl Alcohol Detection Sensor Based on Plastic Optical Fiber

In the present paper I investigated the plastic optical fiber capabilities for the detection of humidity and of the isopropyl alcohol as a high-risk inflammable chemical. The optical fiber sensors find successful applications in a lot of fields where the sensitivity and the accuracy are a must. In inflammable mediums where the electricity is a real danger the electronic sensors are forbidden. In these situations, the optical fiber-based sensors are more than welcomed. The research in the field already showed that the glass optical fibers can offer high accuracy in measuring different parameters from mechanical ones (elongation, pressure) to temperature and humidity. The drawback of these glass fiber sensors is their interrogator’s high price and the specialized workforce needed to install and maintain them. In some cases, a simple low-cost system that operates with good accuracy and sensitivity is a very good option. In this research I succeed to demonstrate the operation of the plastic optical fiber in close comparison with an electronic humidity sensor, by creating a proper testing environment. Furthermore, I was able to show the sensitivity of this optical fiber-based sensor to isopropyl alcohol vapors.