Engineering topics

Tseng, C. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Tseng, C. M..

6 records

NASA NTRS1986

Making Latex Microspheres in Space

Equipment yields larger, more uniform particles. Two NASA reports describe first commercial product to be manufactured in space. Product monodisperse latex, suspension of spherical particles of essentially same diameter. Carried aboard Space Shuttle on its orbital missions, monodisperse latex reactor (MLR) produces spheres of much larger size than possible on Earth. Mircospheres 30 micrometers in diameter produced, whereas 5 micrometers is limit for Earthbound reactors. Microspheres as large as 100 micrometers scheduled for production in MLR.

Kornfeld, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Preparation of large-particle-size monodisperse latexes in space

Results are reported of latex sphere polymerization experiments performed on two flights of the Columbia and three flights of the Challenger. The trials were carried out because polymerization of the spheres in space avoids coagulation, nucleation of a new crop of particles, and excessive stirring requirements, and allows growth of spheres larger than 4 microns diam. The Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR) held four stirred 100 cc sealed stainless steel cylindrical containers. The mixtures were monitored for the conversion times, volume decreases as spheres formed and the mixture temperature. The spheres were grown from 0.19 micron seeds. Details of the flight preparation efforts are outlined. In flights which did not experience mechanical malfunctions spheres 3-30 microns diam were grown that had noticeably lower size variations than did the ground-based control particles. The 10 micron diam spheres grown on STS-6 were accepted as standard reference material by the NBS and became the first products made in space to be commercially sold on earth; the 30 micron spheres also became NBS standards. The experiments confirmed all projected benefits of producing the spheres in space, as well as provided the opportunity to grow more larger offsize spheres by finishing the growths on earth.

Vanderhoff, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Preparation of large-particle-size monodisperse latexes in space: The STS-3, STS-4, and STS-7 mission results

Large-particle-size monodisperse latexes were prepared on four STS missions of the space shuttles Columbia and Challenger using flight hardware comprising four automated 100 cm(3) polymerization reactors. Seven polymerizations carried out on the March 1982 STS-3 mission of the Columbia, and the April 1983 STS-6 and June 1983 STS-7 missions of the Challenger, gave monodisperse latexes of 5 to 18 micron diameter with narrower particle size distributions than the corresponding ground-based control polymerizations. The rates of polymerization in microgravity were the same as on Earth. The results of these experiments are reviewed, and the prospects of the development of a space production process are discussed.

Vanderhoff, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Production of large-particle-size monodisperse latexes

The research program achieved two objectives: (1) it has refined and extended the experimental techniques for preparing monodisperse latexes in quantity on the ground up to a particle diameter of 10 microns; and (2) it has demonstrated that a microgravity environment can be used to grow monodisperse latexes to larger sizes, where the limitations in size have yet to be defined. The experimental development of the monodisperse latex reactor (MLR) and the seeded emulsion polymerizations carried out in the laboratory prototype of the flight hardware, as a function of the operational parameters is discussed. The emphasis is directed towards the measurement, interpretation, and modeling of the kinetics of seeded emulsion polymerization and successive seeded emulsion polymerization. The recipe development of seeded emulsion polymerization as a function of particle size is discussed. The equilibrium swelling of latex particles with monomers was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Extensive studies are reported on both the type and concentration of initiators, surfactants, and inhibitors, which eventually led to the development of the flight recipes. The experimental results of the flight experiments are discussed, as well as the experimental development of inhibition of seeded emulsion polymerization in terms of time of inhibition and the effect of inhibitors on the kinetics of polymerization.

Vanderhoff, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Preparation of large-particle-size monodisperse latexes in space - Polymerization kinetics and process development

Monodisperse polystyrene latexes are prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization; however, sizes larger than 2 microns are difficult to prepare because of the creaming and settling of the particles and their sensitivity to mechanical shear. Preparation in space would obviate the creaming and settling, and allow agitation just sufficient for good heat transfer and mixing. Three polymerizations yielding 3-5 micron size particles were carried out successfully on the third flight of the 'Columbia' launched Mar. 22, 1982; however, four polymerizations yielding sizes up to 10 microns on the fourth flight launched June 27, 1982 were incomplete owing to apparatus malfunction. The results of these polymerizations and the prospects of developing a preparative space process are reviewed.

Vanderhoff, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Preparation of large-particle-size monodisperse polystyrene latexes in microgravity

Three large-particle-size monodisperse latexes (3.44, 4.08, and 4.98 micron diameter) were prepared in an automated four-reactor apparatus on the third orbital mission of the 'Columbia' begun on March 22. Comparison with ground-based controls showed that the 4.98 micron-size flight sample was the more uniform; the uniformity at the other two sizes was about the same. The rates of polymerization in microgravity and on earth were the same within experimental error, demonstrating that radical-initiated vinyl addition polymerizations are unaffected by the weightless environment.

Vanderhoff, J. W.↗