Development of ZnS:Mn mechanoluminescent film for impact sensor

Abstract

Abstract This paper reports the elastico-Mechanoluminescence (EML) induced by the impact of a steel ball onto the composite film of ZnS:Mn phosphor. The film is prepared by pasting the mixture of ZnS:Mn phosphor and optical resin on polycarbonate substrate. The EML induced by impulsive excitation using a steel ball has been measured. The ML intensity linearly increases with square of impact velocity of the steel ball. The tm (temperature corresponding to maximum ML intensity) does not change with increasing impact velocity. The ML intensity is observed to recover after every impact of steel ball (height of fall = 20 cm) and does not require any irradiation. The outcome of present investigation is expected to be useful in extracting information about ML when a projectile with small contact area, such as steel ball makes an impact on the ML sensitive composite film.