Desenvolvimento de um sistema de detecção fotoacústico utilizando dois microfones: aplicações em medidas de difusividade térmica

Abstract

In this work, a photoacoustic detection system was developed for simultaneous and independent measurements of both front and rear photoacoustic signals, using two microphones and a single beam illumination mode. The phase-lag between these signals is used in the determination of thermal diffusivity of materials, based on the theoretical approach of the Two-Beam Phase-Lag technique. In the experimental setup presented in this work there is no need to alternate the light beam between the sample surfaces. This feature provides faster measurements and simplify the automated monitoring of dynamic processes that affect the material thermal diffusivity, as crosslinking processes. The procedure to determine the difference between the intrinsic phases of the microphones is presented, as well as the method to compensate this difference and to obtain the phase-lag between front and rear photoacoustic signals. The developed detection system is tested in thermal diffusivity measurements of metallic (AISI 304 stainless steel and SAE 1020 steel) and polymeric (polypropylene and low-density polyethylene) samples. The results are in good agreement with the available literature values. Finally, the system here proposed is applied in studies of epoxy resin curing, which shows its potentiality for real-time monitoring of dynamic process.