Creation and Investigation of Mechanoluminescent Coatings based on Polymethylmethacrylate and Phosphor Powder SrAl2O4: (Eu2+,Dy3+)

Deformation luminescence of a composite obtained on basis of the polymer material polymethylmethacrylate and fine-dispersed powder of SrAl2O4:(Eu2+, Dy3+) phosphor is investigated. The luminescent (sensory) layer responsive to mechanical action is formed in the surface layer of the polymethylmethacrylate that is transparent in the visible spectrum. The kinetics of deformation luminescence and the photoluminescence spectra of the SrAl2O4:(Eu2+, Dy3+) phosphor microparticles in the polymethylmethacrylate matrix have been studied. Photoluminescence was excited by the nanosecond pulses of the laser with the wavelength λ=355 nm. The shock action on the sensitive luminescent layer was realized by a hammering device and an impulse of an acoustic wave generated by a nanosecond laser pulse. It has been shown that the produced mechanoluminescent layer is highly sensitive to short acoustic and mechanical shock (normal and tangential) actions and can be used in registration and visualization of mechanical actions.