The Platinum Standard

Since 1999, Micro-Measurements has been manufacturing strain gages with the sensing foil made of 92% platinum / 8% tungsten. This unique strain gage series offers a strain sensitivity (gage factor) more than double all other foil strain gage types. This feature is particularly useful in fatigue-rated load cells since strain levels can be reduced while still providing a standard 2 mv/V output. It is also helpful in dynamic (impact) transducers since normal transducer deflections can be reduced and dynamic response improved, while maintaining standard signal levels. Available patterns can be viewed at http://www.vishaypg.com/docs/11563/plattung.pdf.

Pt-W  (P-T) gages are supplied with flexible polyimide backings, full encapsulation, and preformed solder dots. Fiber-reinforced backings are also available upon request.

While Pt-W strain gages might sound ideal for transducers, they do have some shortcomings:

  1. Pt-W gages have high thermal sensitivity. This makes static measurements extremely difficult, even in full-bridge circuits.

  2. Pt-W gages have a limited linear strain range and cannot be used for high strain measurements.

However, even with these limitations there are applications where no other strain gage type will suffice.

jweidner's picture

Jim Weidner

Chief Applications Engineer