An investigation of the mechanoluminescence of composite materials based on a polymer and a phosphor powder excited by the action of a mechanical striker, stylus and laser pulse
The mechanoluminescence of the composite materials based on polymethyl-methacrylate and fine-dispersed powders of Sr4Al14O25:(Eu2+,Dy3+) phosphor with a centrosymmetric crystal structure of microcrystals and SrAl2O4:(Eu2+, Dy3+) phosphor with noncentrosymmetric crystalline structure were investigated. To study of mechanoluminescence, the composite layer with a thickness of ~250-300 μm was deposited on the surface of polymethyl-methacrylate substrate transparent in the visible spectral region. The mechanoluminescence of the composite layer was excited by the action of a mechanical striker, short laser pulses in air and water, and dynamic pressure of the stylus sliding over the surface of the mechanoluminescent layer. It is shown that the composite material based on a polymer and SrAl2O4:(Eu2+,Dy3+) powder with a noncentrosymmetric crystal lattice has a pronounced mechanoluminescence, while the composite material with Sr4Al14O25:(Eu2+,Dy3+) powder does not exhibit of the mechanoluminescent properties. It was shown that the excitation of mechanoluminescence in water begins at a much lower power density of the laser pulses than in air. The produced composite layer is shown to exhibit a high efficiency of “mechanooptical” transformation and can be used for recording and visualizing mechanical effects in mechatronic systems.