Pressure sensitive material

Abstract

A polymeric material which exhibits an optically detectable response to changes in pressure. The material includes an elastomer selected from the group of a polyurethane, a polyacrylate, and a silicone, in combination with a photochemical system. The photochemical system may be in the form of an exciplex or a fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Both photochemical systems are reversible processes. Synthesis of the elastomer and the photochemical system produce a material which forms an excited charge transfer complex when subject to an increase in pressure and a less excited charge transfer complex as pressure is lowered.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A polymeric material comprising: 
 an elastomer;    a photochemical system including fluorescent distance probing molecules modified for incorporation into said elastomer; and    said photochemical system comprising ranging from about 1 milligram to about 100 milligrams of fluorescent distance probing molecules per 10 grams of polymer.    
   
   
       17 . The polymeric material of  claim 16 , wherein said photochemical system is selected from the group consisting of: an exciplex and a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).  
   
   
       18 . The polymeric material of  claim 16 , adapted to produce an optically detectable response to a change in load.  
   
   
       19 . The polymeric material of  claim 30 , wherein said polyacrylate comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of: butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate.  
   
   
       20 . The polymeric material of  claim 30 , wherein said silicone is selected from the group consisting of: GE silicone TSE-399c and a high viscosity silicone sealant.  
   
   
       21 . A solution comprising the polymeric material of  claim 16 , adapted for application to a surface.  
   
   
       22 . The polymeric material of  claim 19 , wherein said acrylate comprises from about 20% to about 90% butyl acrylate by weight.  
   
   
       23 . The solution of  claim 21 , comprising from about 3% to about 10% of said elastomer by weight.  
   
   
       24 . The solution of  claim 21 , comprising a solvent selected from the group consisting of: ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, and toluene.  
   
   
       25 . The solution of  claim 21 , comprising a solvent selected to control at least one solution property selected from evaporation rate, coating thickness, and coating quality.  
   
   
       26 . The solution of  claim 21 , adapted to be applied to a surface through an air powered spraying apparatus adapted to apply said solution under pressure ranging from about 15 psi to about 40 psi.  
   
   
       27 . The polymeric material of  claim 17 , said exciplex comprising a molecule combination selected from the group consisting of: anthracene and dimethylaniline, perylene and dimethylaniline, and pyrene and perylene.  
   
   
       28 . The polymeric material of  claim 17 , a FRET comprising a Fluorescein donor and a Rhodamine B acceptor.  
   
   
       29 . The polymeric material of  claim 18 , wherein said change in load is selected from a group consisting of: global changes and local changes.  
   
   
       30 . The polymeric material of  claim 16 , where said elastomer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate and a silicone.