A Microwave Sensor For Zinc Corrosion Detection

This article presents a sensor based on zinc wires of different widths deposited on the surface of the ceramic resonator capable of detecting and following the evolution of the corrosion of the zinc material. Electromagnetic studies show that due to the evolution of the corrosion, the progressive degradation of the conductivity of the formed zinc grid (from 6 S/mu m to 0.015 S/mu m) causes a degradation of the quality factor (from Q(0) - 50 to Q(0) < 5), a decreased level of the coefficient transmission of the TE101 mode of the resonator (from -8 dB to <-35 dB), and a progressive frequency shift (230MHz). Experimental measurements of this sensor in a corrosive environment show a gradual shift of the resonance frequency of the TE101 mode, a decreased level of the S-21 transmission coefficient, and a degradation of the unloaded quality factor. Confirmed by electronic microscopy and X-Ray analysis, these variations are due to the evolution in the corrosion of zinc wires over time, leading to a creation of corrosion products in these wires. Published by AIP Publishing.