In this note, we are going to learn about the Difference Between Metal and Semiconductor Strain Gauges. Welcome to Poly Notes Hub, a leading destination for polytechnic engineering notes.

Author Name: Arun Paul.

Difference Between Metal and Semiconductor Strain Gauges

Basis	Metal Strain Gauge	Semiconductor Strain Gauge
Material Used	Made from metallic alloys such as constantan, nichrome, or karma	Made from semiconductor materials like silicon or germanium
Working Principle	Works on change in resistance due to change in length and area when strained	Works mainly on the piezoresistive effect
Gauge Factor	Low (about 2–5)	Very high (about 50–200)
Sensitivity	Lower sensitivity	Very high sensitivity
Temperature Effect	Less affected by temperature	Highly affected by temperature
Mechanical Strength	Strong and flexible	Brittle and fragile
Cost	Less expensive	More expensive
Applications	Used in general strain measurement, load cells, stress analysis	Used in high-precision sensors, pressure sensors, MEMS devices