Environmental Protection

Strain gage performance is easily degraded by the effects of moisture, chemical attack, or mechanical damage. As a result, gages require varying degrees of protection according to the severity of the environment in which they must operate. Strain gages should be covered with a suitable coating as soon as possible after the installation because the coating will protect the strain gages as well as the adhesive layer. 

The M-Coat Protective Coatings have been formulated specifically for use in protecting strain gage installations from destabilizing and damaging environmental conditions. The range of materials offered will cover a majority of gage protection requirements. In the benign atmosphere of an air-conditioned laboratory, for instance, a single layer of the M-Coat A will ordinarily provide sufficient protection against humidity, fingerprints, and other degrading contaminants.  When the strain gage must operate in a more severe environment, alternate coatings or combinations of coatings can be employed and you will find these coatings within this section of our website. 

The following Selection Chart is intended to be a preliminary guide for a variety of typical environments. The effectiveness of these materials and procedures has been experimentally validated on numerous occasions. However, application technique is also an important factor of any strain gage protection system.  It is therefore good practice, particularly in the case of long-term installations, to verify by a test that the coating system performs as required. 

Coating Selection Guide