micro-measurements@vishay.com
Manganin Patterns
Vishay Micro-Measurements
Document Number: 11524
Revision 03-Sep-03
www.vishaymg.com
104
Special Purpose Sensors - Manganin Patterns
Manganin is a copper-manganese-nickel alloy with a low
strain sensitivity, but a relatively high sensitivity to
hydrostatic pressure. Resistance change as a function of
applied pressure is linear to extremely high pressures. This
characteristic has been utilized in the construction of high-
range fluid pressure cells using manganin wire for many
years.
Manganin gages are used extensively in high-pressure
shock wave studies ranging from 1 to over 400 kilobars
(1 bar = 14.5 psi = 100 000 N/m2). In conventional
applications, the gage is bonded between two flat metallic
or polymer plates.
Vishay Micro-Measurements offers a large selection of
gages for shock wave studies, manufactured from specially
treated shunt stock manganin foil. The ultrathin
construction offers several advantages over the wire type,
including:
• Improved repeatability from gage to gage, due to
precisely defined grids manufactured from the same lot of
foil.
• Faster response times (nanosecond rise times have been
recorded).
• Smaller, high resistance grids.
• Minimal distortion of the pressure wave when mounted in
high-modulus materials.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Nominal pressure sensitivity of Vishay Micro-Measurements
manganin foil gages is 0.27% per kilobar (0.0027 ohm/ohm/
kb). Long signal transmission cables, low signal levels, and
FOR HIGH-PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS
SHOCK WAVE PROPAGATION • BLAST EFFECT • EXPLOSIVE-FORMING STUDIES
HIGH HYDROSTATIC PRESSURES
high electrical noise complicate the measurement. Most of
these gages are designed for impedance matching to 50-ohm
coaxial cable. The 210AW pattern illustrated has been
used with excitation currents exceeding 6 amperes for peri-
ods to 100 microseconds.
The 580SF pattern was designed specifically for investigat-
ing the effects of sweeping explosive waves. With the tar-
get intentionally tilted at a small angle to the wave front, the
pressure wave traverses the grid in the direction
toward the leads.
Vishay Micro-Measurements manufactures manganin foil
gages in several backing materials. The backing material is
normally selected to minimize the mechanical impedance
mismatch within the target.
L backing is a glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy-phenolic
approximately 0.002 in (0.050 mm) thick. Although
commonly used in the 1- to 15-kilobar range, its usefulness
is not limited to this extent. The backing is ideal for use in
quartz-phenolic transducers since it does not present a
significant impedance discontinuity. L-backed gages may
be used in high-mechanical-impedance materials with the
understanding that rise-time limitations may exist due to an
impedance mismatch between the sensor and the test
material. An encapsulated version (Option SP60), with only
the tab ends exposed for soldering, is available.
N2 backing is nominally 0.0008 in (0.020 mm) thick
polyimide film. This backing is rugged, highly flexible, and
easy to handle. It is suited to very-low-kilobar pressure
ranges.
J2 backing is an encapsulated version of the N2, with the
ends of the tabs exposed.
PRESSURE
M
A
N
G
A
N
I
N
G
A
G
E
TIME (
µ
sec)
PRESSURE (K-BARS)
micro-measurements@vishay.com
Manganin Patterns
Vishay Micro-Measurements
Document Number: 11524
Revision 03-Sep-03
www.vishaymg.com
105
Special Purpose Sensors - Manganin Patterns
†All resistance values are ±1%, measured on the tab near the grid.
GAGE MINIMUM
DESIGNATION†ORDER
REQUIREMENT FOIL TAB
(PKGS) THICKNESS Length Width Length Width LENGTH
LM-SS-110FB-048 5 0.0002 1.380 0.125 0.110 0.125 1.240
LM-SS-110FB-048/SP60 5
N2M-SS-110FB-048 5
J2M-SS-110FB-048 5 0.005 35.05 3.18 2.79 3.18 31.49
LM-SS-125CH-048 5 0.0002 0.290 0.175 0.125 0.175 0.100
LM-SS-125CH-048/SP60 5
N2M-SS-125CH-048 5
J2M-SS-125CH-048 5 0.005 7.37 4.45 3.18 4.45 2.54
LM-SS-210AW-048 1 0.0005 1.750 0.250 0.210 0.250 1.500
LM-SS-210AW-048/SP60 1
N2M-SS-210AW-048 1
J2M-SS-210AW-048 3 0.013 44.45 6.35 5.33 6.35 38.10
LM-SS-210FD-050 5 0.0005 2.500 0.250 0.210 0.250 2.250
LM-SS-210FD-050/SP60 5
N2M-SS-210FD-050 5
J2M-SS-210FD-050 5 0.013 63.50 6.35 5.33 6.35 57.15
LM-SS-580SF-025 2 0.0004 2.018 0.600 0.580 0.008 2.000
LM-SS-580SF-025/SP60 2
N2M-SS-580SF-025 2
J2M-SS-580SF-025 2 0.010 51.26 15.24 14.73 0.20 50.80
OVERALL PATTERN ACTIVE GRID
DIMENSIONS
MANGANIN GAGE SELECTION CHART
125CH
210AW
110FB
580SF
210FD
