Thick film strain gauges on insulated metal substrates for high sensitivity mechanical sensors

New thick film (TF) pastes have been tested on unconventional metal substrates for applications in sensor manufacturing. The good elastic properties of selected metals and alloys can improve TF transducer sensitivity. The compatibility of metal substrates and pastes with respect to TF technology has been characterized. Various systems have been tested with regard to the adhesion and to the dielectric surface condition; strain gauges have been printed and fired on the obtained insulated substrates and data on the measured values of some electrical parameters such as the sheet resistance value, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), the gauge factor (GF) are reported.<
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