Optical-fiber-based chemical sensors for detection of corrosion precursors and by-products

Jennifer L. Elster; Jonathan A. Greene; Mark E. Jones; Timothy A. Bailey; Shannon M. Lenahan; William H. Velander; Roger VanTassell; William Hodges; Ignacio M. Perez

doi:10.1117/12.339802

23 February 1999 Optical-fiber-based chemical sensors for detection of corrosion precursors and by-products

Jennifer L. Elster, Jonathan A. Greene, Mark E. Jones, Timothy A. Bailey, Shannon M. Lenahan, William H. Velander, Roger VanTassell, William Hodges, Ignacio M. Perez

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3540, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors X; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339802
Event: Photonics East (ISAM, VVDC, IEMB), 1998, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Optical fiber sensors are a novel and ideal approach for making chemical and physical measurements in a variety of harsh environments. They do not corrode, are resistant to most chemicals, immune to electromagnetic interference, light weight, inherently small and have a flexible geometry. This paper presents recent test results using optical fiber long-period grating (LPG) sensors to monitor corrosion precursors and by-products. With the appropriate coating, the LPG sensor can be designed to identify a variety of environmental target molecules, such as moisture, pH, sulfates, chlorates, nitrates and metal-ions in otherwise inaccessible regions of metallic structures. Detection of these chemicals can be used to determine if the environment within a particular area of an airplane or infrastructure is becoming conducive to corrosion or whether the corrosion process is active. The LPG sensors offer a clear advantage over similar electrochemical sensors since they can be rendered immune to temperature cross-sensitivity, multiplexed along a single fiber, and can be demodulated using a simple, low-cost spectrum analyzer. By coating the LPG sensor with specially designed affinity coatings that selectively absorb target molecules, selective, real-time monitoring of environmental conditions is possible. This sensing platform shows great promise for corrosion by- product detection in pipe networks, civil infrastructure, process control, and petroleum production operations and can be applied as biological sensors for in-vitro detection of pathogens, and chemical sensors for environmental and industrial process monitoring.

Citation Download Citation

Jennifer L. Elster, Jonathan A. Greene, Mark E. Jones, Timothy A. Bailey, Shannon M. Lenahan, William H. Velander, Roger VanTassell, William Hodges, and Ignacio M. Perez "Optical-fiber-based chemical sensors for detection of corrosion precursors and by-products", Proc. SPIE 3540, Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Fiber Sensors X, (23 February 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339802

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available