How to Find the Strain Gauge that Best Suits Your Application
Find the perfect strain gauge with our selection guide. FAQs will help you navigate experimental tests, durability tests, and transducer manufacturing.
Wood | Pretreatment | Cleaning | Primer | Adhesive | Notice |
| Wood | Dry grinding with glass or flint paper | Blow off grinding dust with oil and water-free compressed air | - | X60 | Wood requires pore-filling adhesive |
Rubber | Pretreatment | Cleaning | Primer | Adhesive | Notice |
| Rubber | Light roughening, emery cloth grain size e.g. 300 | Soapy1) water, rinse with deionized water | - | X60 or Z70 | Strain measurements might be problematic due to strain suppression resulting from the reaction force |
| Plastics | Pretreatment | Cleaning | Primer | Adhesive | Notice |
| Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, X 280 | ||
| Polyimide (PI) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70, X 60, X 280 EP 310 N, EP 150 | ||
| Polyamide imide (PAI) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70, X 60, X 280 EP 310 N, EP 150 | ||
| Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol | Z 70, X 60, X 280 | Also only bondable with dichloromethane | |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol | Z 70, X 60, X 280 | Also only bondable with dichloromethane | |
| Polyamide (PA) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70, X 60, X 280 | In case of adhesion problems pretreat with hydrogen peroxide | |
| Polypropylene (PP) | Roughen wet, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 and/or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Sicomet, Power-Primer 1® | Z 70, X 280 | PP is very low-energetic, and as a result exhibits poor adhesion Powerprimer shows good results (without roughening, cleaning only) |
| Polyethylene (PE) | Roughen wet, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 and/or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Sicomet, Power-Primer 1®" | Z 70, X 280 | PE is very low-energetic, and as a result exhibits poor adhesion Powerprimer shows good results |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, X 60, X 280 | With softener content >50% no permanent adhesion possible | |
| Polyurethane (PUR) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, X 60, X 280 | ||
| Epoxy resin (EP) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70, X 60, X 280 | ||
| Fluoropolymers (PTFE, FEP, PFA) | Activate surface with Tetra Etch® | Warm water, Acetone | Z 70 | ||
| Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70 | ||
| Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70 | ||
| Polyester (UP) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, X 60, X 280 | ||
| Polyaryletherketones (PEEK, PEK) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70, X 280 EP 310 N, EP 150 | ||
| Polystyrene (PS) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, | ||
| Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70, X 280 EP 150, EP 310 N | ||
| Polyethersulfone (PES) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, X 280 EP 150, EP 310 N | ||
| Polysulfone (PSU) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, X 280 EP 150, EP 310 N | ||
| Polyoxymethylene (POM) | Plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, | Roughening has little effect | |
| Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, | ||
| Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Isopropanol or soapy1 water, rinse with deionized water | Z 70, | ||
| Phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | RMS 1 | Z 70, X 60, X 280 EP 310 N, EP 150 |
Glass | Pretreatment | Cleaning | Primer | Adhesive | Notice |
| Silicate glass, glazed porcelain, enamel | Degreased glass surface can be bonded directly;roughening or other preparations are not necessary | RMS 1 | - | X60 or Z70 | - |
Fiber-reinforced plastics(Click here for more info) |
Pretreatment |
Cleaning |
Primer |
Adhesive |
Notice |
| Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CRP) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Soapy1) water, rinse with deionized water | - | Z70, X60, X280 depending on resin EP150, EP310N | Do not damage carbon fibers when sanding. Do not use organic solvents for cleaning. |
| Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) | Roughen, emery cloth grain size 220 -300 or plasma treatment with oxygen | Soapy1) water, rinse with deionized water | - | Z70, X60, X280 depending on resin EP150, EP310N | Do not damage glass fibers when sanding. Do not use organic solvents for cleaning. |
Concrete(Click here for more info) |
Pretreatment |
Cleaning |
Primer |
Adhesive |
Notice |
| Concrete with different grain sizes | Cast with dry molds: remove concrete laitance; Cast with oil molds: oil-soaked layer must be removed; | Blow off grinding dust with oil and water-free compressed air; Degreasing with solvent is not recommended | - | X60 | Concrete requires a strong pore-filling adhesive |
