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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

The correlation between N deficiency and the mechanical properties of the Ti 2 AlNy MAX phase

The role of X deficiency on the mechanical properties of MAX phases was studied by synthesizing Ti 2 AlN through powder metallurgy in stoichiometric and sub/extra-stoichiometric nitrogen compositions. XRD analyses and ab initio calculations indicate that nitrogen vacancies result in a lattice contraction predominantly along the c-axis. The elastic moduli and intrinsic hardness of substoichiometric Ti 2 AlN 0.9 measured from nanoindentation tests are shown to be slightly smaller than that of Ti 2 AlN. The key mechanical indexes, bulk (B), shear (G) and Young’s (E) moduli as well as the hardness variation are calculated in density functional theory, and show different responses depending on the concentration of N vacancies. Overall, this joint experimental and theoretical study provides a full understanding of the energetics, chemical bonding, electronic structure, and mechanics of the N deficient MAX phases which would increase the application of nitride ceramics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1975

Influence of gaseous hydrogen on the mechanical properties of incoloy 903

Solid specimens of the alloy Inconel 903 (iron based alloy) were exposed to four gaseous environments and high temperatures. Air, pure helium, pure hydrogen, and hydrogen and water vapor combined were the gaseous environments employed, and the temperature was 1400 F. Various mechanical property tests (low cycle fatigue, creep-rupture, tensile properties) were performed on the alloy. Results indicate that the hydrogen and water vapor environment cause a sharp reduction in the mechanical properties of the alloy. Photographs of the test equipment used and the microstructure of the tested alloy are included.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2024

Structural and mechanical properties of monolayer amorphous carbon and boron nitride

Amorphous materials exhibit various characteristics that are not featured by crystals and can sometimes be tuned by their degree of disorder (DOD). Here, we report results on the mechanical properties of monolayer amorphous carbon (MAC) and monolayer amorphous boron nitride (maBN) with different DOD. The pertinent structures are obtained by kinetic-Monte-Carlo (kMC) simulations using machine-learning potentials (MLP) with density-functional-theory (DFT)-level accuracy. An intuitive order parameter, namely the areal fraction F x occupied by crystallites within the continuous random network, is proposed to describe the DOD. We find that F x captures the essence of the DOD: Samples with the same F x but different sizes and arrangements of crystallites, obtained using two distinct kMC procedures, have virtually identical radial distributions functions as well as bond-length and bond-angle distributions. Furthermore, by simulating the fracture process with molecular dynamics, we found that the mechanical responses of MAC and maBN before fracture are mainly determined by F x and are insensitive to the sizes and specific arrangements and to some extent the numbers and area distributions of the crystallites. The behavior of cracks in the two materials is analyzed and found to mainly propagate in meandering paths in the CRN region and to be influenced by crystallites in distinct ways that toughen the material. Furthermore, the present results reveal the relation between structure and mechanical properties in amorphous monolayers and may provide a universal toughening strategy for 2D materials.

2-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2020

Full characterization of ultrathin 5-nm low-k dielectric bilayers: Influence of dopants and surfaces on the mechanical properties

Ultrathin films and multilayers, with controlled thickness down to single atomic layers, are critical for advanced technologies ranging from nanoelectronics to spintronics to quantum devices. However, for thicknesses less than 10 nm, surfaces and dopants contribute significantly to the film properties, which can differ dramatically from that of bulk materials. Therefore, for amorphous films being developed as low dielectric constant interfaces for nanoelectronics, the presence of surfaces or dopants can soften films and degrade their mechanical performance. Here we use coherent short-wavelength light to fully and nondestructively characterize the mechanical properties of individual films as thin as 5 nm within a bilayer. In general, we find that the mechanical properties depend both on the amount of doping and the presence of surfaces. In very thin (5-nm) silicon carbide bilayers with low hydrogen doping, surface effects induce a substantial softening - by almost an order of magnitude - compared with the same doping in thicker (46-nm) bilayers. These findings are important for informed design of ultrathin films for a host of nano- and quantum technologies, and for improving the switching speed and efficiency of next-generation electronics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1988

Processing, texture and mechanical properties of sintered silicon carbide

With regard to its favorable properties, in particular those shown at high temperatures, silicon carbide is of great interest for applications related to the construction of engines and turbines. Thus, silicon carbide could replace heat-resisting alloys with the objective to achieve a further increase in operational temperature. The present investigation is concerned with approaches which can provide silicon carbide material with suitable properties for the intended applications, taking into account the relations between characteristics of the raw material, material composition, sinter conditions, and results of the sintering process. The effects of density and texture formation on the mechanical properties are studied. It is found that a dense material with a fine-grained microstructure provides optimal mechanical properties, while any deviation from this ideal condition can lead to a considerable deterioration with respect to the material properties.

Landfermann, H.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Compositional effects on cure kinetics, mechanical properties and printability of dual-cure epoxy/acrylate resins for DIW additive manufacturing

Interest in 3D printing of thermoset resins has increased significantly in recent years. One approach to additive manufacturing of thermoset resins is printing dual-cure resins with direct ink write (DIW). Dual-cure resins are multi-component resins which employ an in situ curable constituent to enable net-shape fabrication while a second constituent and cure mechanism contribute to the final mechanical properties of the printed materials. In this work, the cure kinetics, green strength, printability, and print fidelity of dual-cure epoxy/acrylate thermoset resins are investigated. Resin properties are evaluated as a function of acrylate concentration and in situ UV exposure conditions. The acrylate cure kinetics are probed using photo-differential scanning calorimetry and the impacts of resin composition and UV cure profile on the acrylate extent of conversion are presented. Continuous and pulsed UV cure profiles are shown to affect total conversion due to variances in radical efficiency at different UV intensities and acrylate concentrations. The effects of acrylate concentration on the kinetics of the epoxy thermal cure and the final mechanical properties are also investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis and three-point bend measurements. The glass transition temperature is dependent on formulation, with increasing acrylate content decreasing the T g . However, the room temperature shear moduli, flexural moduli, strength, strain-to-failure, and toughness values are relatively independent of resin composition. The similarity of the final properties allows for greater flexibility in resin formulation and in situ cure parameters, which can enable the printing of complex parts that require high green strength. We found that the in situ UV print intensities and exposure profiles that are necessary to achieve the best print quality are not, in most cases, the conditions that maximize conversion of the acrylate network. Lastly, this highlights the importance of developing optimized resin compositions which enable complete cure of the acrylate network by promoting acrylate dark cure or thermal cure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fundamental Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Mechanical Properties of Lithium and Its Alloys

Lithium alloying reactions are beneficial in promoting uniform plating and stripping of lithium metal in all-solid-state batteries. First-principles calculations are performed to predict thermodynamic, kinetic, and mechanical properties of lithium and several important Li–M alloys (M = Mg, Ag, Zn, Al, Ga, In, Sn, Sb, and Bi). While the Li–Mg binary system forms a solid solution, most other lithium–metal alloys prefer stoichiometric intermetallic compounds with common local motifs that enable fast Li diffusion. Lithium and Li-rich alloys exhibit an unusually flat energy landscape along paths that connect BCC to close-packed structures like FCC and HCP, with important implications for mechanical properties. Very low migration barriers for Li diffusion that rival those of superion conductors are predicted, both in pure Li and in Li–M intermetallics. However, vacancy concentration, which is crucial for substitutional diffusion, is predicted to be low in metallic Li and most Li–M intermetallics. Compounds such as B32 LiAl and LiGa as well as D0 3 Li 3 Sb and Li 3 Bi exhibit structural vacancies at higher ends of their voltage windows, which together with low migration barriers leads to exceptionally high Li mobilities. In the Li–Mg solid solution, the addition of Mg is found to decrease the vacancy tracer diffusion coefficient by an order of magnitude.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Investigation of pressure-controlled injection molding on the mechanical properties and embodied energy of recycled high-density polyethylene

Manufacturing with secondary feedstock has been identified as an effective strategy to improve plastic circularity. However, product quality inconsistencies arise due to variations in molecular weight, rheology, and mechanical properties. This work evaluates the processing of recycled high-density polyethylene using pressure-controlled injection molding with a focus on processing behavior and energy consumption. Further, the effects of injection velocity, packing pressure, and transfer position are benchmarked against a conventional velocity-controlled process. The experimental results show that the novel process control strategy significantly affects the mechanical properties, in-mold rheology, and energy consumption. Parts fabricated using pressure-controlled injection molding showed higher tensile properties due to increased macromolecular orientation. Additionally, reduced energy was used due to lower melt pressures required to completely replicate the cavity geometry. The results demonstrate the potential of the technology to support increased utilization of secondary feedstock and reduced carbon footprint.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1995

Mechanical Properties of Aerogels

Aerogels are extremely low density solids that are characterized by a high porosity and pore sizes on the order of nanometers. Their low thermal conductivity and sometimes transparent appearance make them desirable for applications such as insulation in cryogenic vessels and between double paned glass in solar architecture. An understanding of the mechanical properties of aerogels is necessary before aerogels can be used in load bearing applications. In the present study, the mechanical behavior of various types of fiber-reinforced silica aerogels was investigated with hardness, compression, tension and shear tests. Particular attention was paid to the effects of processing parameters, testing conditions, storage environment, and age on the aerogels' mechanical response. The results indicate that the addition of fibers to the aerogel matrix generally resulted in softer, weaker materials with smaller elastic moduli. Furthermore, the testing environment significantly affected compression results. Tests in ethanol show an appreciable amount of scatter, and are not consistent with results for tests in air. In fact, the compression specimens appeared to crack and begin to dissolve upon exposure to the ethanol solution. This is consistent with the inherent hydrophobic nature of these aerogels. In addition, the aging process affected the aerogels' mechanical behavior by increasing their compressive strength and elastic moduli while decreasing their strain at fracture. However, desiccation of the specimens did not appreciably affect the mechanical properties, even though it reduced the aerogel density by removing trapped moisture. Finally, tension and shear test results indicate that the shear strength of the aerogels exceeds the tensile strength. This is consistent with the response of brittle materials. Future work should concentrate on mechanical testing at cryogenic temperatures, and should involve more extensive tensile tests. Moreover, before the mechanical response of reinforced aerogels can be fully understood, more tests of unreinforced aerogels are necessary. Unreinforced aerogels are of particular use because their birefringent nature allows for visual determination of stress fields during mechanical testing. The success of any future tests depends on the availability of a large supply of quality specimens with well-documented preparation and storage histories.

Parmenter, Kelly E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Low temperature mechanical properties, fractographic and metallographic evaluation of several alloy steels

The mechanical properties are presented of alloy steels, 4130, 4140, 4340, 6150, and 8740. Test specimens were manufactured from approximately 1.00 inch (2.54 cm) diameter bar stock which had been heat treated to two different hardness levels. The following mechanical tests were performed at temperatures of 80 F (+26.7 C), 0 F (-17.8 C), -100 F (-73 C), and -200 F (-129 C): (1) tensile test (Ultimate, yield, modulus, elongation, and reduction of area), (2) notched tensile test, (3) charpy V-notched impact test (impact energy), and (4) double shear strength test (ultimate and yield). The test data indicate excellent tensile strength, notched/unnotched tensile ratios, ductility, impact, and shear properties at all test temperatures, except at -200 F (-129 C) where the impact strength of the higher strength group of alloy steels, 4130 (Rc-37) and 4140 (Rc-44) decreased to approximately 9 ft. lbs. (12 joules) and 6 ft. lbs. (8 joules), respectively. Chemical, metallographic, and fractographic analyses were also performed to evaluate microstructure, microhardness and the effect of decrease in temperature on the ductile to brittle failure transition.

Montano, J. W.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effects of Strain Rate and Temperature on the Mechanical Properties of Simulated Silica Ionogels

Ionogels are hybrid materials formed by impregnating the pore space of a solid matrix with a conducting ionic liquid. By combining the properties of both component materials, ionogels can act as self-supporting electrolytes in Li batteries. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the dependence of mechanical properties of silica ionogels on solid fraction, temperature, and pore width. Comparisons are made with corresponding aerogels. We find that the solid matrix fraction increases the moduli and strength of the ionogel. This varies nonlinearly with temperature and strain rate, according to the contribution of the viscous ionic liquid to resisting deformation. Additionally, owing to the temperature and strain sensitivity of the ionic liquid viscosity, the mechanical properties approach a linear mixing law at high temperature and low strain rates. The median pore width of the solid matrix plays a complex role, with its influence varying qualitatively with deformation mode. Narrower pores increase the relevant elastic modulus under shear and uniaxial compression but reduce the modulus obtained under uniaxial tension. Conversely, shear and tensile strength are increased by narrowing the pore width. All of these pore size effects become more pronounced as the silica fraction increases. Pore size effects, similar to the effects of temperature and strain rate, are linked to the ease of fluid redistribution within the pore space during deformation-induced changes in the geometry of the pores.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Effects of irradiation spectrum on the microstructural and mechanical properties of bulk metallic glasses

Zr 52.5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5 (BAM-11) and Cu60Zr 20 Hf 10 Ti 10 bulk metallic glass (BMG) specimens were ion irradiated to characterize and compare their irradiation induced microstructural and mechanical property evolution. For the ion irradiations, samples of each BMG were exposed to 9 MeV Ni 3+ and 5.5 MeV C + ions to a midrange (~1.5 μm depth) dose of 0.5 displacements per atom (dpa) at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 360 °C in order to examine potential effects associated with low (5.5 MeV C) and high (9 MeV Ni) average primary knock on energies. BAM-11 BMG samples were also irradiated by neutrons (E > 0.1 MeV) at ~70 °C to a fluence of 1.4 × 10 20 n/cm 2 (dose of 0.1 dpa). Importantly, no pronounced irradiation spectrum effects were observed for the nanoindentation mechanical properties of the two BMGs following ion irradiation. However, significant softening was observed in the BAM-11 BMG sample irradiated by neutrons, while annealing of the unirradiated samples led to a marked increase in hardening. Finally, results of the nanoindentation experiments indicate that softening is caused by irradiation induced creation of free volume defects, while the hardening is caused by their annihilation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1984

Influence of extended exposure in space on mechanical properties of high-toughness graphite-epoxy composite material (A0019)

Graphite-epoxy composites are promising candidates for structural use in space vehicles because of their high strength and elastic modulus properties. The problem of low fracture toughness was solved by use of recently developed techniques of intermittent interlaminar bonding. Before this material can be adapted for space use, however, confidence must be gained that its mechanical properties are not degraded by exposure to the space environment. The objective of this experiment is to test the effect of extended exposure to a space environment on the mechanical properties of a specially toughened T300/5208 graphite-epoxy composite material. Specimens made by recently developed techniques of intermittent interlaminar bonding will be exposed and afterward tested for fracture toughness, tensile strength, and elastic modulus. The approach of this experiment is to provide a frame on which the specimens can be mounted with their flat sides normal to the Long Duration Exposure Facility radius, each specimen with an unobstructed exposure of about 2 pi sr. The specimens will be mounted so that they neither fracture from high stress nor fail from excessive heating during launch and return.

Felbeck, D. K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Mechanical property characterization of Borsic/aluminum laminates at room and elevated temperatures

Six Borsic/aluminum laminate orientations exposed to a braze temperature cycle were tested in tension, compression, and shear to determine tangent modulus, maximum stress and strain, and Poisson's ratio of the laminates at room and elevated temperatures. Mechanical properties in tension were determined from flat tensile and sandwich beam tests. Room temperature flat tensile tests were performed on laminates in the as-received condition to compare with specimens exposed to a braze temperature cycle. Sandwich beam tests were also used to determine mechanical properties in compression. Shear properties were determined from biaxially loaded, picture frame shear specimens. Results are presented by using functional relations between stress and strain and tangent modulus and strain, and in tables by indicating maximum stress and strain and Poisson's ratio.

Mcwithey, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Mechanical properties characterization of composite sandwich materials intended for space antenna applications

The composite materials proposed for use in the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) Program contains a new, high modulus graphite fiber as the reinforcement. A study was conducted to measure certain mechanical properties of the new fiber-reinforced material as well as of a composite-faced aluminum honeycomb sandwich structure. Properties were measured at -157, 22, and 121 C. Complete characterization of this material was not intended. Longitudinal tensile, picture-frame shear, short-beam shear, and flexural tests were performed on specimens of the composite face-sheet materials. Unidirectional, cross-plied, and quasi-isotropic fiber composite ply layup designs were fabricated and tested. These designs had been studied by using NASA's Integrated Composite Analyzer (ICAN) computer program. Flexural tests were conducted on (+/- 60/0 deg) sub s composite-faced sandwich structure material. Resistance strain gages were used to measure strains in the tensile, picture-frame, and sandwich flexural tests. The sandwich flexural strength was limited by the core strength at -157 and 22 C. The adhesive bond strength was the limiting factor at 121 C. Adhesive mechanical properties are reflected in sandwich structure flexural properties when the span-to-depth ratio is great enough to allow a significant shear effect on the load-deflection behavior of the sandwich beam. Most measured properties agreed satisfactorily with the properties predicted by ICAN.

Bowles, Kenneth J.↗