Patent ID: 9041419
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: B82Y,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring aging of an item, the method comprising: locating a solid-state structure proximate the item, the solid-state structure and item being subjected to a combination of time and ambient temperature, the solid-state structure including ferromagnetic nanoparticles of a first material distributed in a matrix material between a pair of electrodes, the matrix material being a semimetal or a semiconductor and magnetic interactions between neighboring nanoparticles resulting in temperature and time dependent electrical resistance and magnetization of the solid-state structure, measuring a physical parameter of the solid-state structure using the pair of electrodes, the physical parameter being an electrical resistance or a magnetization; determining a change in the physical parameter relative to an initial state of the solid-state structure, the change in the physical parameter being due to morphological changes of the nanostructures caused by the combination of time and ambient temperature; and determining the aging caused by the combination of time and ambient temperature of the item from the change in the physical parameter of the solid-state structure.