AgeAlert™ is a low-cost conductive composite sensor, which precisely measures the degradation state of virtually any degradable product. As the product ages, the polymeric components of the product shrink very slightly. At the same time, the polymeric components of the AgeAlert™ sensor also shrink, precisely mimicking the changes in the product.

AgeAlert™ essentially tracks the very minute change in shrinkage through change in electrical resistivity. For example, as a polymer ages, AgeAlert™ monitors how much the product has aged by monitoring the electrical resistivity in the sensor.

The AgeAlert™ sensor can be made two ways, depending on the best fit for the particular application. In one type of sensor, nano-size particles of low-cost (electrically conductive) carbon black embedded with a tiny portion of the product polymer function as the sensor to track minute changes in the product as it ages. Alternatively, the sensor can be made of a "designed" conductive composite, which mimics the degradation characteristics of the product. Utilizing the second technique, virtually any product can be monitored if degradation modeling is available.

In either case, the sensor tracks the actual degradation state of the product based on the environmental conditions that the product has encountered.

Enlarge Graph
Research at Polymer Aging Concepts shows that operating in the steep portion of the percolation curve provides maximum sensor sensitivity.

Enlarge Graph
Minute changes in product polymer shrinkage during aging provides large changes in resistance output of the sensor.
(Research conducted by Georgia Tech and
Polymer Aging Concepts, Inc.)

Enlarge Graph
By using the Arrhenius equation, the change in electrical resistivity can predict remaining life of the degradable product.

372 River Drive
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Phone:
(706) 864-6304
Fax:
(706) 864-1056
Contact Us By Email