A device and method for sensing water and acid in the presence of water in nonaqueous media.

摘要

A sensor (20) for monitoring the water content and the acid content in the presence of water in nonaqueous media can be incorporated into a monitoring system for monitoring the quality of nonaqueous fluids in equipment or vehicles. The sensor (20) comprises an insulating substrate (24); electrodes (21, 22) formed on the substrate (24) in an interdigitated pattern; and a conductive polymer (23) deposited over the interdigitated electrodes (21, 22) which bridges between adjacent digits (21a, 22a) of the electrodes (21, 22). The conductive polymer (23) reversibly increases conductivity in measurable amounts with increasing acid and/or water content due to protonation by the acid or hydration by the water.