Carbon based resistive strain gauge sensor fabricated on titanium using micro-dispensing direct write technology

Carbon based resistive strain gauge sensor suitable for medical implant technology has been directly fabricated on a titanium test-plate using Micro-Dispensing Direct Write (MDDW) technology. A 3.5µm biocompatible dielectric layer of parylene C was initially coated on the titanium test-plate. Commercially available screen-print carbon conductive paste was deposited on the parylene C and cured at 80oC for 3 hours; this was to ensure the physical properties and chemical integrity of the parylene C layer was maintained, whilst meeting the electrical conductivity curing requirements for the carbon tracks. The novel integrated strain sensor was experimentally tested and found to have a gauge factor of 10 making it approximately 5 times more sensitive than a commercially available metal foil strain gauge glued to the same titanium plate.