The Varicon sensor has been designed to be used in molds, presses, laminates or bulk material where a flexible, thin dielectric sensor is required. The Varicon sensor is quite thin and can be embedded in a sample or between the plies of a laminate and may be discarded after use. The electrode array is designed to enable a choice of three sensitivities, which are selected by cutting off portions of the array at designated lines.
The Varicon sensor is 15” (38cm) long and only 0.004” (100µm) thick. The gold-plated electrodes have 0.004” (100µm) widths and spaces, and measures dielectric/conductive properties within approximately 0.004” (100µm) of the electrode surface.
The Varicon sensor is suitable for high temperature, high pressure applications, and is ideal for measuring the dielectric properties and cure state of epoxies, bulk molding compound (BMC), sheet molding compound (SMC), silicones, thermosets, urethanes, RIM and composite materials.
Key Specifications
The key specifications of the Varicon Dielectric/Conductivity Sensor are:
| Dimensions: |
| Length, overall |
: |
15” (38cm) |
| Width, sensor head |
: |
0.75” (1.9cm) |
| Thickness |
: |
0.004” (100µm) |
| Width, electrode |
: |
0.004” (100µm) |
| Spacing, electrode |
: |
0.004” (100mm) |
| Composition: |
| Substrate |
: |
Polyimide |
| Electrodes |
: |
Copper with gold flash |
| Operational: |
| Temperature, maximum |
: |
375 °C (700°F) |
| Frequency, mid-con mode |
: |
0.1Hz – 100kHz |
| Frequency, high-con mode |
: |
0.001Hz – 100kHz |