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At least 217 records · Page 12

Effect of g-jitter on Directional Solidification of a Binary Alloy

A study of directional solidification of a weak binary alloy (specifically, Bi - 1 at% Sn) based on the fixed grid single domain approach is being undertaken. The enthalpy method is used to solve for the temperature field over the computational domain including both the solid and liquid phases; latent heat evolution is treated with the aid of an effective specific heat coefficient. A source term accounting for the release of solute into the liquid during solidification has been incorporated into the solute transport equation. The vorticity-stream function formulation is used to describe thermosolutal convection in the liquid region. In this paper we present a numerical simulation of g-jitter: the small, rapid fluctuations in gravitational acceleration which may be experienced in an orbiting space vehicle. A background gravity of 1 micro-g has been assumed, and new results for the effects of orientation angle of the periodic disturbances over a range of amplitudes and frequencies on solute field and segregation have been presented.

Santiviriyapanich, P.↗

Solutal convection induced macrosegregation and the dendrite to composite transition in off-eutectic alloys

The effect of solute gradient induced convection during vertical solidification on the macrosegregation of Pb-rich Pb-Sn off-eutectic alloys is determined experimentally as a function of composition and growth rate. In many cases macrosegregation is sufficient to prevent the plane front solidification of the alloy. The transition from dendritic to composite structure is found to occur when the composition of the solid is close enough to the eutectic composition to satisfy a stability criterion based on the ratio of the liquid temperature gradient to growth rate. A vertical or horizontal magnetic field of 0.1 T (1 kilogauss) does not reduce macrosegregation, but downward solidification (liquid below solid) virtually eliminates macrosegregation in small (3 mm) diameter samples.

Boettinger, W. J.↗

Friction and Wear

From the practical point of view, this analysis shows that each problem of friction or wear requires its particular solution. There is no universal solution; one or other of the factors predominates and defines the choice of the solution. In certain cases, copper alloys of great thermal conductivity are preferred; in others, plastics abundantly supplied with water. Sometimes, soft antifriction metals are desirable to distribute the load; at other times, hard metals with high resistance to abrasion or heat.

HEAT TRANSMISSION - FLUIDS AND SOLIDS↗

Tensile and creep rupture behavior of P/M processed Nb-base alloy, WC-3009

Due to its high strength at temperatures up to 1600 K, fabrication of niobium base alloy WC-3009 (Nb30Hf9W) by traditional methods is difficult. Powder metallurgy (P/M) processing offers an attractive fabrication alternative for this high strength alloy. Spherical powders of WC-3009 produced by electron beam atomizing (EBA) process were successfully consolidated into a one inch diameter rod by vacuum hot pressing and swaging techniques. Tensile strength of the fully dense P/M material at 300-1590 K were similar to the arc-melted material. Creep rupture tests in vacuum indicated that WC-3009 exhibits a class 1 solid solution (glide controlled) creep behavior in the 1480 to 1590 K temperature range and stress range of 14 to 70 MPa. The creep behavior was correlated with temperature and stress using a power law relationship. The calculated stress exponent n, was about 3.2 and the apparent activation energy, Q, was about 270 kJ/mol. The large creep ductility exhibited by WC-3009 was attributed to its high strain rate sensitivity.

Hebsur, Mohan G.↗

Catalytic Decomposition of Propellant Hydrazines, N-Nitrosodimethylamine, and N-Nitrodimethylamine

Remediation of propellant hydrazine spills, waste treatment, or cleanup of water contaminated with these propellants and/or their oxidation products is a subject of great concern for safety and the environment. Current remediation technologies typically employ oxidative methods, such as chlorination or ozonation. Methylated hydrazines, in particular 1,1-dimethythydrazine (UDMH) and to some degree monomethy1hydrazine (MMH), form N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-Nitrodimethylamine (DMNM) during oxidation. These compounds are highly toxic and may persist if oxidative conditions are not sufficiently harsh. Since NDMA and DMNM may also be formed from exposure of MMH or UDMH to air, a need exists for a method that will remediate hydrazine, MMH, UDMH, NDMA, and DMNM. In this work, aqueous solutions of propellant hydrazines, NDMA, and DMNM were found to degrade by catalytic reduction with nickel-aluminum (Ni-Al) alloy under basic conditions. The reaction is based upon dissolution of At from Ni-Al alloy in aqueous media to form aluminum ion and hydrogen gas; and the resultant finely divided nickel catalyzes reduction of the hydrazine, nitrosoamine, or nitroamine by the hydrogen produced. Greater than 99 percent of hydrazine, MMH, UDMH, NDMA, and DMNM in aqueous solutions were degraded under laboratory conditions when reacted with Ni-Al alloy. UDMH was identified as an intermediate reduction product of NDMA and DNNM. NDMA and UDMH were identified as intermediate reduction products of DMNM. Control experiments without nickel showed no degradation of hydrazine, MMH or UDMH, while NDMA and DMNM were reduced to UDMH. Spill pillows containing Ni-Al alloy and solid sodium hydroxide were also found effective in absorption and degradation of UDMH. The application of chemical reduction as a means to propellant hydrazines, NDMA, and DMNM spill remediation, waste treatment, and water decontamination appears highly attractive.

Greene, Ben↗

Morphological Stability of Faceted Interfaces

The major focus of this investigation is to study the fundamentals of layer spreading mechanisms during growth of doped Ge (a facet forming material), and to determine the conditions for morphological instability of vicinal solid-liquid interfaces. The investigation will also lead to the determination of the effect of dopants on the layer growth kinetics, step free energy, and dopant capture by the advancing ledges. The theoretical treatment of growth of faceted interfaces indicates that the kinetics of a step on a growing vicinal interface considerably depends on its angle of inclination, the melt concentration, and characteristics of flow currents in the melt. The morphological stability of the interface also depends on these parameters, as well as on the density and spreading velocity of the steps. However, the treatment of the instability of the interface by the layer growth mechanism is rather difficult because it requires exact knowledge of the thermal and solutal fields, hydrodynamics of the melt, and supercooling at the interface. The results of recent space experiments of the principal investigator involving directional solidification of faceted Bi-Sn alloys have shown that the morphological stability of various crystallographic orientations is significantly affected by the anistropy in interfacial properties of the faceted alloy in general, and the interface kinetics in particular. These findings have also raised many important and fundamental questions, particularly with respect to the behavior of interfacial steps, which need to be addressed via additional groundbased and microgravity experiments. For the present investigation we will use a novel crystal growth technique which provides axial heat flux close to the solid-liquid boundary. The Axial Heat Processing (AHP) technique allows for precise control and determination of the heat and mass transfer close to the crystallization front, and the establishment of a planar interface over the entire cross-section of the growing crystal.

Abbaschian, Reza↗

Effect of a prior stretch on the aging response of an Al-Cu-Li-Ag-Mg-Zr alloy

The effect of a prior stretching of an aluminum alloy Al-5.3Cu-1.4Li-0.4Ag-0.4Mg-0.17Zr (in wt pct) on the microstructure that develops during aging of this alloy was investigated by comparing TEM and SAD observations and hardness curves with results for the unstretched alloy. The results suggest that stretching introduces a significant number of dislocations which may act as vacanacy sinks by sweeping vacancies away and thereby decreasing the vacancy concentration available for influencing the natural aging response. In the stretched and near-peak aged condition, a fine homogeneous distribution of T1, theta-prime, and S-prime phases were observed in an alpha solid solution matrix. Upon overaging, virtually all of the theta-prime and most of the S-prime phases were found to dissolve, leaving behind a microstructure of T1 precipitates.

Kumar, K. S.↗

The effect of compositionally-generated elastic stresses on morphological instability during directional solidification

The effect of compositionally-generated elastic stresses on the conditions for morphological instability during directional solidification of a dilute, ideal binary alloy is investigated using the Gibbs-Thomson equations for an elastically-stressed solid with zero surface stress in equilibrium with a liquid. It is found that these stresses lead to a small stabilization of the Mullins and Sekerka cellular mode of instability. The steady mode is stabilized by a stress-induced modification to the interfacial concentration of the solid, which in turn alters the amount of solute rejected to inhibit the growth of perturbations. The presence of elastic stresses could generate a new oscillatory instability which is most likely to be found in experiments near absolute stability for materials with segregation coefficients near unity and large solute expansion coefficients.

Spencer, B. J.↗

An Electrochemical Framework to Explain Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking in an Al-5.4%Cu-0.5%Mg-0.5%Ag Alloy

A modified version of the Cu-depletion electrochemical framework was used to explain the metallurgical factor creating intergranular stress corrosion cracking susceptibility in an aged Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy, C416. This framework was also used to explain the increased resistance to intergranular stress corrosion cracking in the overaged temper. Susceptibility in the under aged and T8 condition is consistent with the grain boundary Cu-depletion mechanism. Improvements in resistance of the T8+ thermal exposure of 5000 h at 225 F (T8+) compared to the T8 condition can be explained by depletion of Cu from solid solution.

Little, D. A.↗

The Effect of Metal Composition on Fe-Ni Partition Behavior between Olivine and FeNi-Metal, FeNi-Carbide, FeNi-Sulfide at Elevated Pressure

Metal-olivine Fe-Ni exchange distribution coefficients were determined at 1500 C over the pressure range of 1 to 9 GPa for solid and liquid alloy compositions. The metal alloy composition was varied with respect to the Fe/Ni ratio and the amount of dissolved carbon and sulfur. The Fe/Ni ratio of the metal phase exercises an important control on the abundance of Ni in the olivine. The Ni abundance in the olivine decreases as the Fe/Ni ratio of the coexisting metal increases. The presence of carbon (up to approx. 3.5 wt.%) and sulfur (up to approx. 7.5 wt.%) in solution in the liquid Fe-Ni-metal phase has a minor effect on the partitioning of Fe and Ni between metal and olivine phases. No pressure dependence of the Fe-Ni-metal-olivine exchange behavior in carbon- and sulfur-free and carbon- and sulfur-containing systems was found within the investigated pressure range. To match the Ni abundance in terrestrial mantle olivine, assuming an equilibrium metal-olivine distribution, a sub-chondritic Fe/Ni-metal ratio that is a factor of 17 to 27 lower than the Fe/Ni ratios in estimated Earth core compositions would be required, implying higher Fe concentrations in the core forming metal phase. A simple metal-olivine equilibrium distribution does not seem to be feasible to explain the Ni abundances in the Earth's mantle. An equilibrium between metal and olivine does not exercise a control on the problem of Ni overabundance in the Earth's mantle. The experimental results do not contradict the presence of a magma ocean at the time of terrestrial core formation, if olivine was present in only minor amounts at the time of metal segregation.

Holzheid, Astrid↗

Pulsatile instability in rapid directional solidification - Strongly-nonlinear analysis

In the rapid directional solidification of a dilute binary alloy, analysis reveals that, in addition to the cellular mode of Mullins and Sekerka (1964), there is an oscillatory instability. For the model analyzed by Merchant and Davis (1990), the preferred wavenumber is zero; the mode is one of pulsation. Two strongly nonlinear analyses are performed that describe this pulsatile mode. In the first case, nonequilibrium effects that alter solute rejection at the interface are taken asymptotically small. A nonlinear oscillator equation governs the position of the solid-liquid interface at leading order, and amplitude and phase evolution equations are derived for the uniformly pulsating interface. The analysis provides a uniform description of both subcritical and supercritical bifurcation and the transition between the two. In the second case, nonequilibrium effects that alter solute rejection are taken asymptotically large, and a different nonlinear oscillator equation governs the location of the interface to leading order. A similar analysis allows for the derivation of an amplitude evolution equation for the uniformly pulsating interface. In this case, the bifurcation is always supercritical. The results are used to make predictions about the characteristics of solute bands that would be frozen into the solid.

Merchant, G. J.↗

Thermodynamic Analysis of the Combustion of Metallic Materials

Two types of computer codes are available to assist in the thermodynamic analysis of metallic materials combustion. One type of code calculates phase equilibrium data and is represented by CALPHAD. The other type of code calculates chemical reaction by the Gordon-McBride code. The first has seen significant application for alloy-phase diagrams, but only recently has it been considered for oxidation systems. The Gordon-McBride code has been applied to the combustion of metallic materials. Both codes are limited by their treatment of non-ideal solutions and the fact they are limited to treating volatile and gaseous species as ideal. This paper examines the significance of these limitations for combustion of metallic materials. In addition, the applicability of linear-free energy relationships for solid-phase oxidation and their possible extension to liquid-phase systems is examined.

Wilson, D. Bruce↗

Advanced Materials and Fabrication Techniques for the Orion Attitude Control Motor

Rhenium, with its high melting temperature, excellent elevated temperature properties, and lack of a ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT), is ideally suited for the hot gas components of the ACM (Attitude Control Motor), and other high-temperature applications. However, the high cost of rhenium makes fabricating these components using conventional fabrication techniques prohibitive. Therefore, near-net-shape forming techniques were investigated for producing cost-effective rhenium and rhenium alloy components for the ACM and other propulsion applications. During this investigation, electrochemical forming (EL-Form ) techniques were evaluated for producing the hot gas components. The investigation focused on demonstrating that EL-Form processing techniques could be used to produce the ACM flow distributor. Once the EL-Form processing techniques were established, a representative rhenium flow distributor was fabricated, and samples were harvested for material properties testing at both room and elevated temperatures. As a lower cost and lighter weight alternative to an all-rhenium component, rhenium- coated graphite and carbon-carbon were also evaluated. The rhenium-coated components were thermal-cycle tested to verify that they could withstand the expected thermal loads during service. High-temperature electroforming is based on electrochemical deposition of compact layers of metals onto a mandrel of the desired shape. Mandrels used for electro-deposition of near-net shaped parts are generally fabricated from high-density graphite. The graphite mandrel is easily machined and does not react with the molten electrolyte. For near-net shape components, the inner surface of the electroformed part replicates the polished graphite mandrel. During processing, the mandrel itself becomes the cathode, and scrap or refined refractory metal is the anode. Refractory metal atoms from the anode material are ionized in the molten electrolytic solution, and are deposited onto the cathodic mandrel by electrochemical reduction. Rotation of the mandrel ensures uniform distribution of refractory material. The EL-Form process allows for manufacturing in an inert atmosphere with deposition rates from 0.0004 to 0.002 in./h (10.2 to 50.8 m/h). Thicknesses typically range from microns to greater than 0.5 in. (13 mm). The refractory component produced is fabricated, dependably, to within one micron of the desired tolerances with no shrinkage or distortion as in other refractory metal manufacture techniques. The electroforming process has been used to produce solid, nonporous deposits of rhenium, iridium, niobium, tungsten, and their alloys.

Gorti, Sridhar↗

Analytical and Numerical Solution for a Solidifying Liquid Alloy Slab

Numerical and analytical solutions are presented for the temperature and concentration distributions during the solidification of a binary liquid alloy slab. The slab is taken to be of a finite depth but infinite in the horizontal direction. The solidification process is started by withdrawing a fixed amount of heat from the lower surface of the slab. The upper surface of the slab is subjected to both radiation and convective conditions. The solution gives the concentration and temperature profiles and the interface position as a function of time. Due to the smallness of the mass diffusion coefficient in the solid, the numerical solution method breaks down whenever the ratio of the diffusivities in the solid and the liquid falls below a certain value. An analytical method is developed which gives accurate solution for any value of the diffusivity ratio.

Antar, B. N.↗

Homogeneous crystal nucleation in binary metallic melts

A method for calculating the homogeneous crystal nucleation frequency in binary metallic melts is developed. The free energy of crystallization is derived from regular solution models for the liquid and solid and is used, together with model-based estimates of the interfacial tension, to calculate the nucleation frequency from the classical theory. The method can account for the composition dependence of the maximum undercooling observed in a number of experiments on small droplet dispersions. It can also be used to calculate the driving force for crystal growth and to obtain more precise estimates of the homogeneous crystal nucleation frequency in glass-forming alloys. This method, although approximate, is simple to apply, and requires only knowledge of the phase diagram and a few readily available thermodynamic quantities as input data.

Thompson, C. V.↗

Coarsening in binary solid-liquid mixtures

A theory of Ostwald ripening has been developed for a solid-liquid mixture cosisting of a low volume fraction array of spherical solid particles in a liquid wherein the coarsening process proceeds via the transport of both heat and mass. It is found that the simultaneous transport of heat and mass during ripening does not alter the exponents of the temporal power laws governing the ripening process from their classical values but does alter the amplitudes of these power laws. The growth rate of the cube of the average particle radius, the rate constant, is found to depend both on the alloy solute concentration and the ratio of the thermal to solutal diffusivities. In most metallic systems, a large decrease in the rate constant can be expected with small additions of solute to a pure metal. Possible extensions of this theory to the analogous problem of ripening in isothermal ternary alloys are also discussed.

Voorhees, P. W.↗

Aqueous liquid feed organic fuel cell using solid polymer electrolyte membrane

A liquid organic fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion.TM.. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon.TM.-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion.TM./methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion.TM.. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed. New organic fuels, namely, trimethoxymethane, dimethoxymethane, and trioxane are also described for use with either conventional or improved fuel cells.

Surampudi, Subbarao↗

Organic fuel cell methods and apparatus

A liquid organic fuel cell is provided which employs a solid electrolyte membrane. An organic fuel, such as a methanol/water mixture, is circulated past an anode of a cell while oxygen or air is circulated past a cathode of the cell. The cell solid electrolyte membrane is preferably fabricated from Nafion.TM.. Additionally, a method for improving the performance of carbon electrode structures for use in organic fuel cells is provided wherein a high surface-area carbon particle/Teflon.TM.-binder structure is immersed within a Nafion.TM./methanol bath to impregnate the electrode with Nafion.TM.. A method for fabricating an anode for use in a organic fuel cell is described wherein metal alloys are deposited onto the electrode in an electro-deposition solution containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. A fuel additive containing perfluorooctanesulfonic acid for use with fuel cells employing a sulfuric acid electrolyte is also disclosed. New organic fuels, namely, trimethoxymethane, dimethoxymethane, and trioxane are also described for use with either conventional or improved fuel cells.

Surampudi, Subbarao↗