Degradation Mechanism
The gradual change in the physical or chemical properties of a sensing element over time alters its response characteristics under constant conditions. This progressive deterioration is known as transducer aging and represents a primary source of long-term measurement drift. Material fatigue, chemical oxidation, and mechanical relaxation are the main causes.
It occurs even when the sensor is stored in a controlled environment.
Metrological Drift
Gradual changes in zero-point offset and sensitivity scale-factor characterize the drift caused by this phenomenon. The magnitude of transducer aging is usually expressed as a percentage of the full-scale output per year. Regular verification against reference standards is required to maintain the accuracy of the measurement system.
Environmental Accelerator
High temperatures, humidity, and mechanical vibration accelerate the rate of material degradation. Exposing the sensor to these stress factors simulates transducer aging during accelerated life testing. This testing allows manufacturers to estimate the operational lifespan of the sensor in harsh conditions.
Calibration Compensation
Periodic recalibration corrects the output drift by updating the conversion coefficients stored in the instrument transmitter. Advanced smart sensors use predictive algorithms to estimate the progress of transducer aging and automatically adjust the offset. This compensation method extends the interval between manual calibrations.
