An optical-chemical sensor using rhodamine B on anodized-aluminum for surface temperature measurement from 150 to 500 K

Temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) provides surface temperature measurements over the surface of a test body. It can be used to obtain surface temperature measurements which can be also useful in determining heat flux and visualizing the location of boundary layer transition. In this study, a rhodamine B (RhB)-based anodized-aluminum temperature-sensitive paint (AA-TSP) is developed as a surface temperature sensor. Anodized aluminum offers advantages over a polymer base, including an increased melting point and increased resistance to stiffening and cracking at cryogenic temperatures, making it well-suited for wide range temperature measurements. In this study, the influence of different dipping solvents to apply the RhB onto the anodized-aluminum is characterized. Two groups of dipping solvents were found with respect to the luminescent intensity and temperature sensitivity based on the polarity index of the solvents. By using anodized-aluminum as opposed to a polymer as the platform for the RhB, the sensor provides an expanded temperature detection range from 150 to 500 K. The highest temperature sensitivity given by the AA-TSP approached -3%/K at 150 K, which is determined by fitting a sigmoidal curve to the temperature calibration results. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.