Conductometric Sensors for Monitoring Degradation of Automotive Engine Oil

Abstract

Conductometric sensors have been fabricated by applying imprinted polymers as receptors for monitoring engine oil quality. Titania and silica layers are synthesized via the sol-gel technique and used as recognition materials for acidic components present in used lubricating oil. Thin-film gold electrodes forming an interdigitated structure are used as transducers to measure the conductance of polymer coatings. Optimization of layer composition is carried out by varying the precursors, e.g., dimethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane (DMAPTMS), and aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES). Characterization of these sensitive materials is performed by testing against oil oxidation products, e.g., carbonic acids. The results depict that imprinted aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) polymer is a promising candidate for detecting the age of used lubricating oil. In the next strategy, polyurethane-nanotubes composite as sensitive material is synthesized, producing appreciable differentiation pattern between fresh and used oils at elevated temperature with enhanced sensitivity.

A miniaturized electronic sensor for instant monitoring of ethanol in gasohol fuel blends

“…due to layer-analyte interactions would lead to change these parameters and thus, taken as sensor response. Molecular imprinted layers 45,46 can be taken as efficient recognition interface for covering the electrode surface. IDCs are designed as printed circuit board pattern using screen printing method with the electrode nger width 300 mm and spacing between two consecutive gures of 130 mm.…”

Analysis of Degradation of Motor Oils Used in ZETOR Tractors

“…Based on application of modern tribodiagnostics methods (FTIR spectrometry and particles counter LaserNet Fines), Kučera et al (2013) evaluated biolubricants that are used in agriculture and transport machinery. Along with the techniques introduced above the sensors used for evaluating the oil state are applied too (Capone et al, 2008;Jakoby, 2003;Latif et al, 2011;Wang, 2001). During road tests the sensor was used to observe the motor oil degradation which might be divided into three phases: (1) good oil state, (2) rapid acid products increase in the oil (evaluation based on the total base number -TAN), and (3) rapid viscosity increase (Wang, 2001).…”

Molecular imprinting: perspectives and applications

“…As seen above, the development of MIP-based conductometric sensors relies on the preparation of MIPs as membranes. For example, Dickert et al 563 used multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) loaded on polyurethane as a conductive filler to synthesize a sensitive layer, and then combined the layer with MIPs to design a conductometric sensor. This nanotube-polyurethane composite showed a better conductivity than the TiO 2 composite because of the thickness of the resulting polymer.…”