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Mirtich, Michael J.

Publications and source records attributed to Mirtich, Michael J..

31 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Automated data acquisition and processing for a Hohlraum reflectometer

A computer and data acquisition board were used to automate a Perkin-Elmer Model 13 spectrophotometer with a Hohlraum reflectivity attachment. Additional electronic circuitry was necessary for amplification, filtering, and debouncing. The computer was programmed to calculate spectral emittance from 1.7 to 14.7 micrometers and also total emittance versus temperature. Automation of the Hohlraum reflectometer reduced the time required to determine total emittance versus temperature from about three hours to about 40 minutes.

Difilippo, Frank↗
NASA NTRS1988

Ion beam and plasma methods of producing diamondlike carbon films

A variety of plasma and ion beam techniques was employed to generate diamondlike carbon films. These methods included the use of RF sputtering, dc glow discharge, vacuum arc, plasma gun, ion beam sputtering, and both single and dual ion beam deposition. Since films were generated using a wide variety of techniques, the physico-chemical properties of these films varied considerably. In general, these films had characteristics that were desirable in a number of applications. For example, the films generated using both single and dual ion beam systems were evaluated for applications including power electronics as insulated gates and protective coatings on transmitting windows. These films were impervious to reagents which dissolve graphitic and polymeric carbon structures. Nuclear reaction and combustion analysis indicated hydrogen to carbon ratios to be 1.00, which allowed the films to have good transmittance not only in the infrared, but also in the visible. Other evaluated properties of these films include band gap, resistivity, adherence, density, microhardness, and intrinsic stress. The results of these studies and those of the other techniques for depositing diamondlike carbon films are presented.

Swec, Diane M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The emittance of space radiator materials measured at elevated temperatures

The spectral emittances of textured space radiator materials between 1.7 and 14.7 micrometer have been evaluated at room temperature and elevated temperature (630 C) in air. Heating in air caused a permanent increase in spectral emittance for all materials tested: HCl/ion beam textured 304 stainless steel, untextured Ti (6 percent Al, 4 percent V), and sandblasted Ti (6 percent Al, 4 percent V). Changes in the surface chemistry and/or surface morphology of these materials were also observed. Elevated temperature spectral emittance was measured in an argon atmosphere and compared to the measurements in air. Similarity between the room temperature and elevated temperature spectral emittance measurements was also investigated, and limited agreement was found.

Mirtich, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Arc-textured metal surfaces for high thermal emittance space radiators

Carbon arc electrical discharges struck across the surfaces of metals such as Nb-1 percent Zr, alter the morphology to produce a high thermal emittance surface. Metal from the surface and carbon from the arc electrode vaporize during arcing, and then condense on the metal surface to produce a microscopically rough surface having a high thermal emittance. Quantitative spectral reflectance measurements from 0.33 to 15 microns were made on metal surfaces which were carbon arc treated in an inert gas environment. The resulting spectral reflectance data were then used to calculate thermal emittance as a function of temperature for various methods of arc treatment. The results of arc treatment on various metals are presented for both ac and dc arcs. Surface characterization data, including thermal emittance as a function of temperature, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic oxygen durability, are also presented. The ac arc texturing was found to increase the thermal emittance at 800 K from 0.05 to 0.70.

Banks, Bruce A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The effect of the near earth micrometeoroid environment on a highly reflective mirror surface

A resurgence of interest in placing large solar concentrator solar dynamic systems in space for power generation has brought up again a concern for maintaining the integrity of the optical properties of highly specular reflecting surfaces in the near earth space environment. One of the environmental hazards needing evaluation is the micrometeoroid environment. It has been shown that highly reflective polished metals and thin film coatings degrade when exposed to simulated micrometeoroids in the lab. At NASA-Lewis, a shock tube was used to simulate the phenomenon of micrometeoroid impact by accelerating micron sized particles to hypervelocities. Any changes in the optical properties of surfaces exposed to this impact were then evaluated. The degradation of optical properties of polished metals and thin metallic films after exposure to simulated micrometeoroids was determined as a function of impacting kinetic energy area of the particles. A calibrated sensor was developed to not only detect the micrometeoroid environment, but also to evaluate the degradation of the optical properties of thin aluminum films in space. Results of the simulation are presented and discussed.

Mirtich, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The effect of the near earth micrometeoroid environment on a highly reflective mirror surface

A resurgence of interest in placing large solar concentrator solar dynamic systems in space for power generation has brought up again a concern for maintaining the integrity of the optical properties of highly specular reflecting surfaces in the near earth space environment. One of the environmental hazards needing evaluation is the micrometeoroid environment. It has been shown that highly reflective polished metals and thin film coatings degrade when exposed to simulated micrometeoroids in the lab. At NASA-Lewis, a shock tube was used to simulate the phenomenon of micrometeoroid impact by accelerating micron sized particles to hypervelocities. Any changes in the optical properties of surfaces exposed to this impact were then evaluated. The degradation of optical properties of polished metals and thin metallic films after exposure to simulated micrometeoroids was determined as a function of impacting kinetic energy area of the particles. A calibrated sensor was developed to not only detect the micrometeoroid environment, but also to evaluate the degradation of the optical properties of thin aluminum films in space. Results of the simulation are presented and discussed.

Mirtich, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Oxidation protection coatings for polymers

A polymeric substrate is coated with a metal oxide film to provide oxidation protection in low Earth orbital environments. The film contains about four volume percent polymer to provide flexibility.

Sovey, James S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Enhanced thermal emittance of space radiators by ion-discharge chamber texturing

The discharge chamber of a 30-cm argon ion source was successfully used to texture potential space radiator materials for the purpose of obtaining values of thermal emittance greater than 0.85 at 700 and 900 K. Some samples were also treated in acid prior to texturing. To evaluate the durability of the textured materials to atomic oxygen, samples were exposed to an RF air plasma environment. The spectral emittance between 2.0 anf 15.0 microns was measured before and after the textured materials were exposed to the plasma asher. The results indicate that copper with extremely high values of emittance after texturing (0.978 and 0.983) at 700 and 900 K, respectively,did not change its values of emittance after ashing, whereas the emittance of stainless steel fell below 0.85 after ashing. These data, along with scanning electron photomicrographs, and the results of texturing and ashing titanium and Nb(1)Zr are presented .

Mirtich, Michael J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

High temperature radiator materials for applications in the low Earth orbital environment

Radiators must be constructed of materials which have high emittance in order to efficiently radiate heat from high temperature space power systems. In addition, if these radiators are to be used for applications in the low Earth orbital environment, they must not be detrimentally affected by exposure to atomic oxygen. Four materials selected as candidate radiator materials (304 stainless steel, copper, titanium-6% aluminum-4% vanadium (Ti-6%Al-4%V), and niobium-1% zirconium (Nb-1%Zr)) were surface modified by acid etching, heat treating, abrading, sputter texturing, electrochemical etching, and combinations of the above in order to improve their emittance. Combination treatment techniques with heat treating as the second treatment provided about a factor of two improvement in emittance for 304 stainless steel, Ti-6%Al-4%V, and Nb-1%Zr. A factor of three improvement in emittance occurred for discharge chamber sputter textured copper. Exposure to atomic oxygen in an RF plasma asher did not significantly change the emittance of those samples that had been heat treated as part of their texturing process. An evaluation of oxygen penetration is needed to understand how oxidation affects the mechanical properties of these materials when heat treated.

Rutledge, Sharon K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Heat exchanger for electrothermal devices

An improved electrothermal device is disclosed. An electrothermal thruster utilizes a generally cylindrical heat exchanger chamber to convert electricity to heat which raises the propellant temperature. A textured, high emissivity heat element radiatively transfers heat to the inner wall of this chamber that is ion beam morphologically controlled for high absorptivity. This, in turn, raises the temperature of a porous heat exchanger material in an annular chamber surrounding the cylindrical chamber. Propellant gas flows through the annular chamber and is heated by the heat exchanger material.

Zavesky, Ralph J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Protection of solar array blankets from attack by low earth orbital atomic oxygen

The ram impact of low earth orbital atomic oxygen causes oxidation of spacecraft materials including polymers such as polyimides. The rate of oxidation is sufficiently high to potentially compromise the long term durability of Kapton solar array blankets. Ion beam sputter deposited atomic oxygen protective coatings of aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and codeposited silicon dioxide with small amounts of polytetrafluoroethylene were evaluated both in RF plasma asher tests and in low earth orbit. Deposition techniques, mechanical properties, and atomic oxygen protection performance are presented.

Banks, Bruce A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ion beam deposition of amorphous carbon films with diamond like properties

Carbon films were deposited on silicon, quartz, and potassium bromide substrates from an ion beam. Growth rates were approximately 0.3 micron/hour. The films were featureless and amorphous and contained only carbon and hydrogen in significant amounts. The density and carbon/hydrogen ratio indicate the film is a hydrogen deficient polymer. One possible structure, consistent with the data, is a random network of methylene linkages and tetrahedrally coordinated carbon atoms.

Angus, John C.↗