Enhancement of photoacoustic detection of inhomogeneities in polymers

P. Grondona; H. O. Di Rocco; D. I. Iriarte; J. A. Pomarico; Héctor F. Ranea-Sandoval; G. M. Bilmes

doi:10.4279/pip.050005

Authors

P. Grondona
H. O. Di Rocco
D. I. Iriarte
J. A. Pomarico
Héctor F. Ranea-Sandoval Instituto de Física Arroyo Seco, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires
G. M. Bilmes

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4279/pip.050005

Keywords:

Laser applications, Pulsed Photoacoustics, Polymer Phantoms

Abstract

We report a series of experiments on laser pulsed photoacoustic excitationin turbid polymer samples addressed to evaluate the sound speed in the samples and the presence of inhomogeneities in the bulk. We describe a system which allows the direct measurement of the speed of the detected waves by engraving the surface of the piece under study with a fiduciary pattern of black lines..We also describe how this pattern helps to enhance the sensitivity for the detection of an inhomogeneity in the bulk. These two facts are useful for studies in soft matter systems including, perhaps, biological samples. We have performed an experimental analysis on Grilon® samples in different situations and we show the limitations of the method.

Received: 7 December 2012, Accepted: 19 June 2013; Reviewed by: V. Lakshminarayanan, Waterloo University, Canada; Edited by: J. J. Niemela; DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4279/PIP.050005

Cite as: P. Grondona, H. O. Di Rocco, D. I. Iriarte, J. A. Pomarico, H. F. Ranea-Sandoval, G. M. Bilmes, Papers in Physics 5, 050005 (2013)