Fuji Pressure Film

Fuji Pressure Film refers to a pressure indicating sensor film that can measure pressure between any two surfaces that touch, mate, or impact. Fuji Pressure Film is synonymous with the following other terms: Fujifilm Prescale®, Fuji Paper, Fujifilm Prescale® Film, Fuji Pressure Paper, Prescale® Fuji Film, Pressure Indicating Film, and Pressure Measurement Film.

Fuji Pressure Film is a Mylar-based film that contains a layer of tiny microcapsules. The application of force upon the film causes the microcapsules to rupture, producing an instantaneous and permanent high resolution “topographical” image of pressure variation across the contact area. Conceptually similar to Litmus paper, the color intensity of Fuji Pressure Film is directly related to the amount of pressure applied to it, the greater the pressure, the more intense the color. Topaq® analysis can be performed on the raw images to give pseudo-color images and associated pressures. (See Figures 1 and 2.)

Fig 1: Raw Fuji Pressure Film Images of Six Impact Tests

Fig 2: Pressure Scale and Pseudo-color Images of Six Impact Tests

The simple term Pressure Film is often used in literature instead of the more correct designation, Fuji Pressure Film. For example, Australian dental researchers, Laura J. Barbagallo, Gang Shen, Allan S. Jones, Michael V. Swain, Peter Petocz, and M. Ali Darendeliler, titled their paper, “A Novel Pressure Film Approach for Determining the Force Imparted by Clear Removable Thermoplastic Appliances.” In this work, Fuji Pressure Film was used to measure the force imparted by removable thermoplastic appliances onto teeth. Figure 3 shows the film on top of a molar, and Figure 4 is the pressure distribution between the tooth and the appliance.

Fig 3: Fuji Pressure Film on Molar

Fig 4: Pressure Distribution between Molar and Thermoplastic Appliance

Another literature reference to Fuji Pressure Film came from Polish scientists, Elzbieta Maklewska and Izabella Krucinska. Their research is titled, “Estimating the Shock-Absorbing Ability of Protector Materials by Use of Pressure Films.” This work was a study of the impact resistance of protective sports clothing and helmets. Drop tests were performed on clothing and helmet inserts. Fuji Pressure Film was used to assess impact forces during the tests. Figures 5, 6, and 7 show some of the analyses that were performed using the Fuji Pressure Film

Fig 5: Raw Pressure Image	Fig 6: Pressure Histogram
Fig 7: A Line-Scan Reflects the Amount and Location of Pressure along a User-Defined Line.