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Advances in the development of a polymer - based sensor system for explosives detection

Luminescent - based sensing methods are ideal for detection of explosives given their potential advantages in size, sensitivity, and fast response times, and since buried land-mines can continue to release vapours regardless of casing material and buried depth. Conjugated polymer films are well suited for this application, since when these light - emitting materials are exposed to very dilute vapour of TNT - like compunds, the explosive molecules adhere to the film and turn off the light emission. A portable, robust instrument for in-field vapour sensing integrating luminescent conjugated polymer films has been designed, prototyped and successfully tested in a simulated landmine environment, with efforts to optimise the system for field trials. The system, developed within the TIRAMISU project, was designed to be a complementary device to be used in conjunction with other mine-detecting instrumentation, such as metal detectors or ground-penetrating radar, to enhance confidence in mine clearing. The system was tested with simulated buried landmines that had been buried for more than a year. The explosive vapours TNT and DNT were buried in sand and soil in either metal or plastic cases at depth of 2 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm. The system showed good sensitivity to the vapours by quenching to around 20% of the original intensity over 2 minutes.

13th International Symposium "MINE ACTION 2016"

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