Hi there,
A sensor we're designing requires a flexible membrane to separate sea water from silicone oil (polydimethylsiloxane). Can anybody recommend a sheet material that can be bonded to a stainless steel substrate?
Thanks in advance,
Euan
Glass is inert against sea water, and a microscope cover slip is thin enough to be flexible. Aquarium cement certainly would have good adhesion to the glass, and probably to the stainless as well. However, if it is a silicone adhesive, it might lose adhesion in contact with the silicone oil.
Stainless steel shim stock is available as thin as 0.001", which is quite flexible. However stainless corrodes in contact with sea water.
Titanium might be a possibility, if thin sheets are available. Checking on:
I have a thin tantalum sheet I bought on eBay, which is somewhat flexible, but you probably won't be able to find another one. This one was made for the proverbial metal plate in the head (to repair cranial injuries). I don't think they repair heads that way anymore.
Polyimide, polyethylene, and polyethylene napthalate are used as flexible printed circuit substrates, which is a fairly demanding application. Epoxy adhesives are often used to bond them to copper foils.
Among plastics, beware of the possible effects of water absorption. Kapton is about 4% water at saturation. If you go with polyimide at all, Upilex-S from Ube has much lower water absorption, only about 1%.
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