A remote query magnetoelastic pH sensor

A remote query magnetoelastic pH sensor comprised of a magnetoelastic thick-film coated with a mass-changing pH-responsive polymer is described. In response to a magnetic query held the magnetoelastic sensor mechanically vibrates at a characteristic frequency that is inversely dependent upon the mass of the attached polymer layer. As the magnetoelastic sensor is magnetostrictive the mechanical vibrations of the sensor launch magnetic flux that can be detected remotely from the sensor using a pickup coil. The pH responsive copolymer is synthesized from 20 mol% of acrylic acid and 80 mol% of iso-octyl acrylate and then deposited onto a magnetoelastic film by dip-coating. For a 1 mum polymer coating upon a 30 mum thick Metglas [The Metglas alloys are a registered trademark of Honeywell Corporation. For product information see: http://www.electronicmaterials.com:80/businesses/sem/amorph/page5_1_2.htm.] alloy 2826MB magnetoelastic film between pH 5 and 9 the change in resonant frequency is linear, approximately 285 Hz/pH or 0.6%/pH. The addition of 10 mmol/l of KCl to the test solution decreases the sensitivity of the polymer approximately 4%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.