Use of a device and method for the determination of water and acid in the presence of water in non-aqueous media

摘要

A sensor for monitoring the water content and the acid content in the presence of water in nonaqueous media can be incorporated into a monitoring system for monitoring the quality of nonaqueous fluids in equipment or vehicles. The sensor comprises an insulating substrate; electrodes formed on the substrate in an interdigitated pattern; and a conductive polymer deposited over the interdigitated electrodes which bridges between adjacent digits of the electrodes. The monitoring system incorporating the sensor comprises a control module for measuring the conductivity of the sensor. The control module is preprogrammed to compare the measured conductivity to a predetermined level indicative of an unacceptable level of degradation. The sensor is made by depositing electrodes on an insulating substrate; depositing a conductive polymer over the electrodes in an amount sufficient to bridge between the electrodes; and neutralizing the conductive polymer to an insulating form. A method of sensing water and acid in the presence of water in nonaqueous media exposes an insulating form of a conductive polymer to a nonaqueous medium and monitors the conductivity of said conductive polymer, as the nonaqueous medium is used. The conductive polymer reversibly increases conductivity in measurable amounts with increasing acid and/or water content due to protonation by the acid or hydration by the water.