Innovation and new technology for advanced
efficiency in sensor technology
3-2009 May ....................................................... www.sensorreport.de
SENSORS
쐍
Ever-Stable Platinum
Sensors
쐍
Force measurement
made easy
쐍
Force transducers with a
high vibration bandwidth
MEASURING
AND TESTING
쐍
High-g vibration exciters
쐍
Data under shock
쐍
Confocal laser scanning
microscope
APPLICATIONS
& PRODUCTS
쐍
Broken wafer edges?
쐍
Protection for sensors
inside automobiles
쐍
Extending the life of wi-
reless sensor networks
WDM – PROCESS
I NSTRUMENTATION
쐍
Where is process auto-
mation going?
PANORAMA
쐍
Sensor+Test 2009
쐍
Events – News – Books
Bild Spektra
sensor
report
Mediapartner of AMA Association for Sensorik Technology
Factory Automation
Industrial Vision
Measurement
Technique
Sensors
COVER STORY
Ever-Stable Platinum
Sensors
As market leader in platinum temperature sensors, Heraeus Sensor Technology regards itself well
equipped for all market requirements even in turbulent times. Along with further investment in pro-
duction automation, the use of economical nickel connecting leads opens up new market segments
that are especially price-sensitive.
Heraeus Sensor Technology finds ways out of
the raw material price trap.
6 sensor report 3-2009
E
ach year Heraeus Sensor Technology supplies several mil-
lions of platinum temperature sensors in thin-film techno-
logy as basic components for OEMs throughout the world.
The core capabilities of the company are the development,
production and international marketing of sensors for tempe-
rature and flow rate as well as modules, such as are used for
example in the manufacture of gas sensors or biosensors. By
far most of the products arise through cooperation with cus-
tomers.
COST REDUCTION WITHOUT LOSS OF QUALITY. Apart
from the high level of automation and the increase of the
yield in production – for example through smaller designs for
a given size of substrate – the consumption of raw materials
for platinum temperature sensors is a decisive factor in the
development of strategies for cost reduction and for decoup-
ling the costs from the increasingly varying raw material pri-
ces. To date, mainly wires with a nickel core and a sheath of
platinum have been used. This has the advantage that the
inert properties of platinum also apply to the connecting
leads.
Within the scope of process optimisation Heraeus Sensor
Technology has developed a method of preventing the typical
oxidation of the surface of the nickel wires during proces-
sing. The platinum temperature sensors with nominal resis-
tances of 500 ohms and 1,000 ohms which are provided with
nickel wires are already being produced and marketed as the
MN series and will shortly be complemented by the Pt100.
They have come through all quality tests with flying colours,
especially for long-term stability, accuracy and tensile
strength of the leads. In order to be able to exploit the best
use of various connecting techniques, Heraeus has developed
another variant based on nickel wire with a silver coating.
The untreated, bare nickel wire is most easily laser welded,
resistance welded or brazed, whereas the silver-plated nickel
wire is ideally suited to soft soldering and crimping. The MN
series of platinum temperature sensors is designed for tem-
peratures from -70 °C to +500 °C (short-term to +550 °C)
and the LN series from -50 °C to +400 °C.
MN and LN sensors are available in all current tolerance clas-
ses and with the temperature coefficients TK3850 and TK3750.
ACCURATE – ROBUST – STABLE – AND ECONOMICAL.
Through a further improvement in the production process
Heraeus Sensor Technology has again been able to break
through a decisive price barrier for platinum temperature
sensors in thin-film technology without compromising quali-
ty – thereby asserting its claim as market leader.
The development of the sensors with nickel connecting leads
and the resulting reduction in costs also makes it easier for
users of NTC and KTY sensors to change to the higher quali-
ty platinum sensors.
PT SENSORS ARE EVERYWHERE. Applications in the
automotive industry: for the control of exhaust gas aftertreat-
ment in exhaust gas recirculation systems, in diesel particu-
late filters, for turbocharger monitoring or engine-oil conditi-
on measurement, for the supervision of transmission oil tem-
perature or of auxiliary heating burners.
Applications in household appliances: for pyrolitic cleaning
and the control of oven temperature or the monitoring and
Fig. 1: Sensor Type MN222
Pt1000 with Ni- Lead wires (All fi-
gures by Heraeus Sensor Techno-
logy)