Current regulations regarding temperature control have become increasingly demanding in many areas. Sometimes the regulations only require a check at a certain frequency but, in most processes, they involve continuous monitoring. For this reason, self-adhesive liquid-crystal thermometers are becoming one of the most widely used devices for countless temperature checks. They are a reliable but also economical method to meet this need.
But what are self-adhesive liquid-crystal strips or LCD thermometers? These thermometers are precision adhesive strips that allow temperature to be monitored through a colour change. Let's see what they are made of:
Components of a liquid-crystal strip
1 – Transparent polyester: seals the liquid crystal printed on the paper against the aggression of external agents that could damage it.
2 – Non-toxic organic ink: used to print the graphics: numbers, letters, boxes that identify and delimit each temperature point.
3 – Liquid crystal: this is the heat-sensitive substance itself – very labile and only manipulable in a sterile environment – it is protected under the first 2 layers from the outside and is what indicates the temperature through its colour change.
4 – Black background layer: allows us to easily see the colour change of the liquid crystal as the temperature rises:
- BLUE: the temperature is below the calibration point
- GREEN: the actual temperature matches the calibration point
- RED/BROWN: the temperature is above the calibration point
5 – Modified acrylic adhesive with polyester backing: its adhesion force of 750 N/m allows the strip to be stuck on curved surfaces and remain unaltered without problems.
6 – Protective paper: allows the strip to be transported and stored without the risk of the adhesive losing its full adherence until the moment of use.
Advantages of use
Self-adhesive liquid-crystal strips have been gaining ground as a conventional thermometer over other devices thanks to several of their main features that make them one of the most practical temperature measurement methods.
Easy to use
1) Remove the protective paper. 2) Stick it on the surface to be monitored.
Easy to interpret
The actual temperature appears in intense GREEN on a BLACK background.
Reliable
Accuracy of +/-1ºC and, in medical-use strips, +/-0.5ºC.
No batteries and no toxic components
They require no installation or replacements (unalterable for more than 2 years).
Flexible
They can be used to monitor the temperature of curved surfaces.
Standard and customisable versions available
They can be made to measure (limit temperatures: -3ºC / +90ºC).
In short, it is a very versatile, easy-to-interpret and economical method, the ideal solution for many of the required temperature checks using an economical, easy-to-use, clean and totally reliable means.
For more information: Reversible LCD thermometers.
