Measurements of Polymer-Derived Ceramic Thin-Film Strain Gauges at High Temperatures

The in situ preparation of high-temperature strain sensors and minimization of the monitoring of the surface impact are crucial for effectively monitoring the health of devices in high-temperature and extreme environments, such as aircraft engines. However, most high-temperature strain gauges are expensive and complex to manufacture, and they exhibit poor high-temperature stability. In this study, polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) technology is introduced to prepare PDC thin-film strain gauges (TFSGs). The high-temperature stability of the sensor is improved by the superior high-temperature and adhesion performance characteristics of PDCs. In addition, SiO2 is generated at high temperatures to create a protective film layer. Herein, we present the fabrication of PDC/indium-tin oxide (ITO) TFSGs using direct ink writing (DIW) 3-D printing to assess their performance. The experimental results demonstrate that the prepared PDC/ITO TFSGs have a low-resistance drift rate of 0.55%/h and a high strain coefficient of 8 at 1100 °C after 1 h of heat preservation. These gauges have a stable structure at 1200 °C and should withstand temperatures of at least 1400 °C in the short term.