Thermal imaging using polymer nanocomposite temperature sensors

Sensing temperature distributions over an area is of interest for many applications, and it is currently performed using sensors that are attached to the structure. In this work a conductive smart paint, made from latex and exfoliated graphite, is introduced for temperature sensing. This provides, as an alternative to manual fixation, the ability to integrate sensors during fabrication because the approach is amenable to additive manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing. We demonstrate that calibration of the spray-coatable polymer/carbon composite thin film sensors allows accurate temperature measurement over an area. We further demonstrate continuous, distributed temperature sensing by employing electrical impedance tomography to reconstruct a thermal image from measurements at the perimeter of the sensing region.