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At least 235 records · Page 13

Microdeformation in Vredefort rocks; evidence for shock metamorphism

Planar microdeformations in quartz from basement or collar rocks of the Vredefort Dome have been cited for years as the main microtextural evidence for shock metamorphism in this structure. In addition, Schreyer describes feldspar recrystallization in rocks from the center of the Dome as the result of transformation of diaplectic glass, and Lilly reported the sighting of mosaicism in quartz. These textural observations are widely believed to indicate either an impact or an internally produced shock origin for the Vredefort Dome. Two types of (mostly sub) planar microdeformations are displayed in quartz grains from Vredefort rocks: (1) fluid inclusion trails, and (2) straight optical discontinuities that sometimes resemble lamellae. Both types occur as single features or as single or multiple sets in quartz grains. Besides qualitative descriptions of cleavage and recrystallization in feldspar and kinkbands in mica, no further microtextural evidence for shock metamorphism at Vredefort has been reported to date. Some 150 thin sections of Vredefort basement rocks were re-examined for potential shock and other deformation effects in all rock-forming minerals. This included petrographic study of two drill cores from the immediate vicinity of the center of the Dome. Observations recorded throughout the granitic core are given along with conclusions.

Reimold, W. U.↗

Age hardening characteristics and mechanical behavior of Al-Cu-Li-Zr-In alloys

An investigation was conducted to determine the age-hardening response and cryogenic mechanical properties of superplastic Al-Cu-Li-Zr-In alloys. Two alloys with compositions Al-2.65Cu-2.17Li-O.13Zr (baseline) and Al-2.60Cu-2.34Li-0.16Zr-0.17In were scaled-up from 30 lb permanent mold ingots to 350 lb DC (direct chill) ingots and thermomechanically processed to 3.2 mm thick sheet. The microstructure of material which contained the indium addition was partially recrystallized compared to the baseline suggesting that indium may influence recrystallization behavior. The indium-modified alloy exhibited superior hardness and strength compared to the baseline alloy when solution-heat-treated at 555 C and aged at 160 C or 190 C. For each alloy, strength increased and toughness was unchanged or decreased when tested at - 185 C compared to ambient temperature. By using optimized heat treatments, the indium-modified alloy exhibited strength levels approaching those of the baseline alloy without deformation prior to aging. The increase in strength of these alloys in the T6 condition make them particularly attractive for superplastic forming applications where post-SPF parts cannot be cold deformed to increase strength.

Wagner, John A.↗

Investigation of welding and brazing of molybdenum and TZM alloy tubes

This effort involved investigating the welding and brazing techniques of molybdenum tubes to be used as cartridges in the crystal growth cartridge. Information is given in the form of charts and photomicrographs. It was found that the recrystallization temperature of molybdenum can be increased by alloying it with 0.5 percent titanium and 0.1 percent zirconium. Recrystallization temperatures for this alloy, known as TZM, become significant around 2500 F. A series of microhardness tests were run on samples of virgin and heat soaked TZM. The test results are given in tabular form. It was concluded that powder metallurgy TZM may be an acceptable cartridge material.

Lundblad, Wayne E.↗

Some unique meteorites found in Antarctica and their relation to asteroids

Two unique meteorites were identified by means of a mineralogical examination of the smaller-sized Yamato achondrites. Yamato-74130 is the most iron-rich ureilite with Na, Cr-rich augite instead of pigeonite. Yamato-74160 was extensively recrystallized, but the composition and proportion of olivine, orthopyroxene, augite, and plagioclase is consistent with LL7 chondrites. ALHA77005 is a unique achondrite with olivine, possibly three pyroxene assemblages, and maskelynite. These meteorites provide evidence that there may be other 'thermalized' asteroids than the howardite parent body. Detailed petrologic descriptions of the unique achondrites, recrystallized diogenite Yamato-74013, and the rapidly cooled eucrite Yamato-74450 with pyroxene phenocrysts are given. It is inferred from the bulk chemistry and the mineralogical reexamination of Yamato-75028 that it is composed of the H5-type clasts and chondrule-rich H(L)3-like matrix with the H5 fragments. A close relationship in the collisional evolution of some asteroids with these materials is inferred.

Takeda, Hiroshi↗

Bohemian circular structure, Czechoslovakia: Search for the impact evidence

Test of the impact hypothesis for the origin of the circular, 260-km-diameter structure of the Bohemian Massif led to the discovery of glasses and breccias in the Upper Proterozoic sequence that can be compared to autogeneous breccias of larger craters. The black recrystallized glass contains small exsolution crystals of albite-oligoclase and biotite, regularly dispersed in the matrix recrystallized to quartz. The occurrence of these rocks is limited to a 1-sq-km area. It is directly underlain by the breccia of the pelitic and silty rocks cemented by the melted matrix, found on several tens of square kilometers. The melt has the same chemistry as rock fragments in major and in trace elements. It is slightly impoverished in water. The proportion of melted rocks to fragments varies from 1:5 to 10:1. The mineralogy of melt viens is the function of later, mostly contact metamorphism. On the contact of granitic plutons it abounds on sillimanite, cordierite, and small bullets of ilmenite. Immediately on the contact with syenodiorites it contains garnets. The metamorphism of the impact rock melt seems the most probable explanation of the mineralogy and the dry total fusion of rocks accompanied by the strong fragmentation. Other aspects of this investigation are discussed.

Rajlich, Petr↗

The crystallization and crystalline properties of LARC-TPI

LARC-TPI, a thermoplastic polyimide, has been studied in order to develop an understanding of its crystalline phase transition. Our experiments suggest that samples synthesized in different laboratories apparently had different degrees of imidization and their thermal behaviors differed accordingly. When the most crystalline of these polyimides was studied in some detail, we found that it melted irreversibly in that once a sample was completely melted it would not recrystallize. A polymer that did not recrystallize displayed a glass transition, which increased in temperature upon subsequent cooling and reheating. Solubility experiments indicated that heating above the crystalline melting temperature led to network formation in the polymer, a conclusion that is consistent with other behavior just mentioned. Differential calorimetric studies revealed that annealing at slow heating rates or under isothermal conditions resulted in dual melting transitions. These studies, supported by X-ray diffraction results, strongly indicate that the annealing process involves a solid-liquid-solid transformation. From an existing phenomenological model for the kinetics of phase transitions, kinetic parameters for these crystallizations have been evaluated. The Avrami exponents n increased with the annealing temperature in the protocol used in this study. Their values were about 2 or lower, thus indicating that crystallization may have followed a mechanism that included heterogeneous nucleation of a low dimensional order in which all the embryonic crystallites formed at the beginning of the process. A positive temperature coefficient for these crystallizations indicated that diffusion may have had a rate controlling influence and affected the values of n.

Theil, Michael H.↗

Metallurgy and properties of plasma spray formed materials

Understanding the fundamental metallurgy of vacuum plasma spray formed materials is the key to enhancing and developing full material properties. Investigations have shown that the microstructure of plasma sprayed materials must evolve from a powder splat morphology to a recrystallized grain structure to assure high strength and ductility. A fully, or near fully, dense material that exhibits a powder splat morphology will perform as a brittle material compared to a recrystallized grain structure for the same amount of porosity. Metallurgy and material properties of nickel, iron, and copper base alloys will be presented and correlated to microstructure.

Mckechnie, T. N.↗

Simulation of possible regolith optical alteration effects on carbonaceous chondrite meteorites

As the spectral reflectance search continues for links between meteorites and their parent body asteroids, the effects of optical surface alteration processes need to be considered. We present the results of an experimental simulation of the melting and recrystallization that occurs to a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite regolith powder upon heating. As done for the ordinary chondrite meteorites, we show the effects of possible parent-body regolith alteration processes on reflectance spectra of carbonaceous chondrites (CC's). For this study, six CC's of different mineralogical classes were obtained from the Antarctic Meteorite Collection: two CM meteorites, two CO meteorites, one CK, and one CV. Each sample was ground with a ceramic mortar and pestle to powders with maximum grain sizes of 180 and 90 microns. The reflectance spectra of these powders were measured at RELAB (Brown University) from 0.3 to 2.5 microns. Following comminution, the 90 micron grain size was melted in a nitrogen controlled-atmosphere fusion furnace at an approximate temperature of 1700 C. The fused sample was immediately held above a flow of nitrogen at 0 C for quenching. Following melting and recrystallization, the samples were reground to powders, and the reflectance spectra were remeasured. The effects on spectral reflectance for a sample of the CM carbonaceous chondrite called Murchison are shown.

Clark, Beth E.↗

Isotopic signatures and distribution of nitrogen and trapped and radiogenic xenon in the Acapulco and FRO90011 meteorites

Acapulco metal and silicate show distinct N isotopic signatures. Trapped heavy noble gases are carried by 'magnetic' opx and radiogenic Xe-129 excesses are observed in phosphate and in minor surficial phases on metal grains. N and Xe isotopic signatures in FRO90011 do not agree with those observed in Acapulco. The Acapulco meteorite is unique in having achondritic texture and chondritic composition. Its mineralogical study shows the record of high temperature (1100 C) recrystallization. However, this meteorite shows abundances of volatile elements close to the levels observed in carbonaceous chondrites and concentrations of heavy noble gases comparable to those observed in type 4 ordinary chondrites, not expected for a presumed highly equilibrated object. Nitrogen measurements in bulk Acapulco revealed two different isotopic signatures, in apparent conflict with evidence for a high degree of recrystallization. N and Xe were studied in separated mineral phases to search for the carriers in order to better understand the formation and thermal history of the Acapulco parent body.

Kim, Y.↗

Post-igneous redistribution of components in eucrites

In our analyses, we utilize a microdrilling technique that removes 40 to 100 micron diameter cores from mineral grains in thin sections analyzed by microprobe. The cores are then analyzed by INAA using the technique of Lindstrom. Three eucrites were selected for application of this analytical technique: monomict breccias Pasamonte and Stannern and unbrecciated EET90020. Pasamonte is among the most unequilibrated of the eucrites on the basis of zoning in pyroxenes and is considered to be an igneous rock not significantly affected by metamorphism. Stannern has igneous texture but its pyroxenes indicate some re-equilibration, although little, if any, recrystallization. EET90020 has a granulite texture and has been substantially recrystallized. Our sample of Pasamonte contains several clasts of different grain sizes ranging from glass to fine grained with diabasic texture containing lathy plagioclase, unexsolved pigeonite, and mesostasis. Cores were taken of the glass and from minerals and mesostases in six lithic clasts which normally allowed sampling of more than one phase per clast. Our sample of Stannern is also a breccia but with little difference in grain size between clasts and matrix. The plagioclase and pigeonite are blocky, twinned, and exsolved and coexist with a bit of mesostasis. Cores were taken of plagioclase and pigeonite with no attempt to distinguish separate clasts. EET90020 is a granular mixture of twinned plagioclase and pigeonite having rather uniform size and many triple junctions. Several cores were taken of both phases. Both clear and cloudy grains of plagioclase and pyroxene were sampled in all three eucrites.

Phinney, W. C.↗

Materials processing apparatus development for fluoride glass

Fluoride glasses have great potential for optical fiber communications due to the high transmittance when no microcrystallites occur during drawing operations. This work has developed apparatus to test the occurrence of microcrystallites during recrystallization in reduced gravity on the KC-135. The apparatus allows fluoride glass fiber, such as ZBLAN, to be melted and recrystallized during both the low and high g portions the parabolic flight.

Smith, Guy A.↗

AP reclamation and reuse in RSRM propellant

A solid propellant ingredient reclamation pilot plant has been evaluated at the Strategic Operations of Thiokol Corporation, located in Brigham City, Utah. The plant produces AP wet cake (95 percent AP, 5 percent water) for recycling at AP vendors. AP has been obtained from two standard propellant binder systems (PBAN and HTPB). Analytical work conducted at Thiokol indicates that the vendor-recrystallized AP meets Space Shuttle propellant specification requirements. Thiokol has processed 1-, 5-, and 600-gallon propellant mixes with the recrystallized AP. Processing, cast, cure, ballistic, mechanical, and safety properties have been evaluated. Phillips Laboratory static-test-fired 70-pound and 800-pound BATES motors. The data indicate that propellant processed with reclaimed AP has nominal properties.

Miks, Kathryn F.↗

Ureilite smelting

Ureilites containing homogeneous Fo76 olivine cores in intimate co-existence with graphite must have recrystallized at pressures of at least approximately 100 bars to suppress smelting of the fayalite component of the olivine to Fe metal. Smelting of olivine and pyroxene-saturated magmatic liquids produces orthopyroxene-without-olivine crystalline derivatives unlike those in ureilites. Thus the Mg# compositional variation within the ureilite suite, which is commonly attributed to partial smelting, cannot plausibly be produced by assemblages rich in liquid. In situ smelting of graphitic olivine + pigeonite crystal mushes can produce the correct crystal assemblage, but fails to provide a plausible account for the removal of metal from ureilites or for the correlation of Mg# with Delta O-17. Even if Mg# and Delta O-17 variations are established in the nebula, ureilite recrystallization with graphite must have occurred at pressures greater than the minima we have experimentally established, corresponding to parent objects not less than approximately 100 km in radius.

Walker, David↗

Microstructure Characterization and Stress Corrosion Evaluation of Autogenous and Hybrid Friction Stir Welded Al-Cu-Li 2195 Alloy

Friction stir welding process is being evaluated for application on the Al-Cu-Li 2195 Super-Light Weight External Tank of the Space Transportation System. In the present investigation Al-Cu-Li 2195 plates were joined by autogenous friction stir welding (FSW) and hybrid FSW (friction stir welding over existing variable polarity plasma arc weld). Optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to characterize microstructures of the weldments processed by both welding methods. TEM observations of autogenous FSW coupons in the center section of the dynamically-recrystallized zone showed an equiaxed recrystallized microstructure with an average grain size of approx. 3.8 microns. No T(sub 1), precipitates were present in the above-mentioned zone. Instead, T(sub B) and alpha precipitates were found in this zone with a lower population. Alternate immersion, anodic polarization, constant load, and slow strain tests were carried out to evaluate the general corrosion and stress-corrosion properties of autogenous and hybrid FSW prepared coupons. The experimental results will be discussed.

Li, Zhixian↗

Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Hot-Die Forming, and Joining of 47XD Gamma TiAl Rolled Sheets

The microstructure and mechanical properties, along with the hot-die forming and joining of Ti-47Al-2Nb-2Mn-0.8 vol% TiB, sheets (known as 47XD), produced by a low-cost rolling process, were evaluated. A near-gamma microstructure was obtained in the as-rolled condition. The microstructures of heat-treated sheets ranged from a recrystallized equiaxed near-gamma microstructure at 1,200 to 1,310 C, to a duplex microstructure at 1,350 C, to a fully lamellar microstructure at 1,376 C. Tensile behavior was determined for unidirectionally rolled and cross-rolled sheets for room temperature (RT) to 816 C. Yield stress decreased gradually with increasing deformation temperature up to 704 C; above 704 C, it declined rapidly. Ultimate tensile strength exhibited a gradual decrease up to 537 C before peaking at 704 C, followed by a rapid decline at 816 C. The modulus showed a gradual decrease with temperature, reaching approximately 72% of the RT value at 816 C. Strain to failure increased slowly from RT to 537 C; between 537 C and 704 C it exhibited a phenomenal increase, suggesting that the ductile-brittle transition temperature was below 704 C. Fracture mode changed from transgranular fracture at low temperature, to a mixture of transgranular and intergranular fracture at intermediate temperature, to ductile fracture at 816 C, coupled with dynamic recrystallization at large strains. Creep rupture response was evaluated between 649 and 816 C over the stress range of 69 to 276 MPa. Deformation parameters for steady-state creep rate and time-to-rupture were similar: activation energies of approximately 350 kJ/mol and stress exponents of approximately 4.5. Hot-die forming of sheets into corrugations was done at elevated temperatures in vacuum. The process parameters to join sheets by diffusion bonding and brazing with TiCuNi 70 filler alloy were optimized for test coupons and successfully used to fabricate large truss-core and honeycomb structures. Nondestructive evaluation methods, e.g., ultrasonic C-scans and thermography along with metallography, were used to characterize bond quality. Microstructural evaluation during heat treatment, identification of phases at the braze/matrix interface, determination of shear strengths of brazed joints, and deformation mechanisms during tensile and creep processes will be discussed.

Das, G.↗

The Influence of Interfacial Roughness on Fiber Sliding in Oxide Composites with La-Monazite Interphases

Room temperature debonding and sliding of La-Monazite coated fibers is assessed using a composite with a polycrystalline alumina matrix and fibers of several different single crystal (mullite, sapphire) and directionally solidified eutectic (Al2O3/Y3Al5O12 and Al2O3/Y-ZrO2) compositions. These fibers provide a range of residual stresses and interfacial roughnesses. Sliding occurred over a debond crack at the fiber-coating interface when the sliding displacement and surface roughness were relatively small. At large sliding displacements with relatively rough interfaces, the monazite coatings were deformed extensively by fracture, dislocations and occasional twinning, whereas the fibers were undamaged. Dense, fine-grained (10 nm) microstructures suggestive of dynamic recrystallization were also observed in the coatings. Frictional heating during sliding is assessed. The possibility of low temperature recrystallization is discussed in the light of the known resistance of monazite to radiation damage. The ability of La-Monazite to undergo plastic deformation relatively easily at low temperatures may be enabling for its use as a composite interface.

Davis, J. B.↗

Carbonate petrography, kerogen distribution, and carbon and oxygen isotope variations in an early Proterozoic transition from limestone to iron-formation deposition, Transvaal Supergroup, South Africa

The transition zone comprises Campbellrand microbialaminated (replacing "cryptalgalaminate") limestone and shale, with minor dolomite, conformably overlain by the Kuruman Iron Formation of which the basal part is characterized by siderite-rich microbanded iron-formation with minor magnetite and some hematite-containing units. The iron-formation contains subordinate intraclastic and microbialaminated siderite mesobands and was deposited in deeper water than the limestones. The sequence is virtually unaltered with diagenetic mineral assemblages reflecting a temperature interval of about 110 degrees to 170 degrees C and pressures of 2 kbars. Carbonate minerals in the different rock types are represented by primary micritic precipitates (now recrystallized to microsparite), early precompactional sparry cements and concretions, deep burial limpid euhedral sparites, and spar cements precipitated from metamorphic fluids in close contact with diabase sills. Paragenetic pathways of the carbonate minerals are broadly similar in all lithofacies with kerogen intimately associated with them. Kerogen occurs as pigmentation in carbonate crystals, as reworked organic detritus in clastic-textured carbonate units, and as segregations of kerogen pigment around late diagenetic carbonate crystals. Locally kerogen may also be replaced by carbonate spar. Carbon isotope compositions of the carbonate minerals and kerogen are dependent on their mode of occurrence and on the composition of the dominant carbonate species in a specific lithofacies. Integration of sedimentary, petrographic, geochemical, and isotopic results makes it possible to distinguish between depositional, early diagenetic, deep burial, and metamorphic effects on the isotopic compositions of the carbonate minerals and the kerogen in the sequence. Major conclusions are that deep burial thermal decarboxylation led to 13C depletion in euhedral ferroan sparites and 13C enrichment in kerogen (organic carbon). Metamorphic sparites are most depleted in 13C. Carbonates in oxide-rich iron-formations are more depleted in 13C than those in siderite-rich iron-formation whereas the kerogens in oxide banded iron-formations (BIF) are more enriched. This implies that the siderite-rich iron-formations were not derived from oxide-rich iron-formation through reduction of ferric iron by organic matter. Organic matter oxidation by ferric iron did, however, decrease the abundance of kerogen in oxide-rich iron-formation and led to the formation of isotopically very light sparry carbonates. Siderite and calcmicrosparite both represent recrystallized primary micritic precipitates but differ in their 13C composition, with the siderites depleted in 13C by 4.6 per mil on average relative to calcmicrosparite. This means that the siderites were precipitated from water with dissolved inorganic carbon depleted in 13C by about 9 per mil relative to that from which the limestones precipitated. This implies an ocean system stratified with regard to total carbonate, with the deeper water, from which siderite-rich iron-formation formed, depleted in 13C. Iron-formations were deposited in areas of very low organic matter supply. Depletion of 13C may, therefore, derive not from degradation of organic matter but from hydrothermal activity, a conclusion which is supported by 18O composition of the carbonate minerals and trace element and rare earth element (REE) compositions of the iron-formations.

NASA Discipline Number 52-30↗

The Surface Structure of Ground Metal Crystals

The changes produced on metallic surfaces as a result of grinding and polishing are not as yet fully understood. Undoubtedly there is some more or less marked change in the crystal structure, at least, in the top layer. Hereby a diffusion of separated crystal particles may be involved, or, on plastic material, the formation of a layer in greatly deformed state, with possible recrystallization in certain conditions. Czochralski verified the existence of such a layer on tin micro-sections by successive observations of the texture after repeated etching; while Thomassen established, roentgenographically by means of the Debye-Scherrer method, the existence of diffused crystal fractions on the surface of ground and polished tin bars, which he had already observed after turning (on the lathe). (Thickness of this layer - 0.07 mm). Whether this layer borders direct on the undamaged base material or whether deformed intermediate layers form the transition, nothing is known. One observation ty Sachs and Shoji simply states that after the turning of an alpha-brass crystal the disturbance starting from the surface, penetrates fairly deep (approx. 1 mm) into the crystal (proof by recrystallization at 750 C).

Boas, W.↗