PressureSensitive

Pressure-sensitive describes materials or devices whose physical response depends on applied pressure, enabling detection, bonding, or signaling. The term is used in adhesives, sensors, coatings, and paints.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives are viscoelastic materials that briefly bond to a surface under light pressure and remain tacky; used in tapes, labels, protective films. Bond strength depends on surface roughness, temperature, and time.

In sensing, pressure-sensitive devices convert mechanical pressure into an electrical, optical, or thermal signal. Common mechanisms include piezoresistive (change in electrical resistance with pressure), piezoelectric (voltage generated under pressure), and capacitive (change in capacitance due to distance changes). Optical methods use changes in light scattering or fluorescence; pressure-sensitive paint is used in aerospace to map pressure fields.

Applications span electronics, medical devices, automotive, aerospace, packaging, robotics, and wind-tunnel testing, among others.

Limitations include temperature sensitivity, creep, hysteresis, aging, and the need for calibration. Researchers continue to improve range, sensitivity, linearity, and durability. The term may appear hyphenated or as a compound noun depending on context.