Swelling of PDMS Networks in Solvent Vapours; Applications for Passive RFID Wireless Sensors

The relative degree of swelling of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) network in organic vapours is demonstrated to be related to the chemical and physical properties of the organic compounds. The swelling ratio, based on volume change, QV, is directly correlated with the Hansen solubility parameters, dd, dp and dh and the vapour pressures of the organic vapours employed. A practical use for such PDMS networks in combination with an understanding of the relationship is demonstrated by the use of PDMS as a mechanical actuator in a prototype wireless RFID passive sensor. The swelling of the PDMS displaces a feed loop resulting in an increase in transmitted power, at a fixed distance.