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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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2004

Thermionic Emission of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Measured

Researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center, in collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology, have investigated the thermionic properties of high-purity, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) for use as electron-emitting electrodes. Carbon nanotubes are a recently discovered material made from carbon atoms bonded into nanometer-scale hollow tubes. Such nanotubes have remarkable properties. An extremely high aspect ratio, as well as unique mechanical and electronic properties, make single-wall nanotubes ideal for use in a vast array of applications. Carbon nanotubes typically have diameters on the order of 1 to 2 nm. As a result, the ends have a small radius of curvature. It is these characteristics, therefore, that indicate they might be excellent potential candidates for both thermionic and field emission.

Landis, Geoffrey A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Interactions of atomic oxygen with material surfaces in low Earth orbit: Preliminary results from experiment A0114

The atomic oxygen experiment consisted of two trays (one-sixth of a Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) tray each) of 64 one inch diameter solid samples. It was intended that the effects of atomic oxygen and solar ultraviolet irradiation on the surface properties of each material could be distinguished from each other and from the effects of aging. Sixteen of the samples were placed on a thermally isolated plate of highly polished aluminum, while the main plate was coated with the thermal control coating S13-GLO. Though the experiment was entirely passive, it was hoped that the effects of thermal activation might be observed, if present. The plates were expected to stabilize at temperatures differing by 20-30 C. The samples included thin films of metals Os, Ir, Pt, Ni, Mo, and Al coated onto silica optical flats, metal carbides (WC, SiC), solid carbons of various types, eight polymers, and some other coatings of various types. Analysis is essentially complete using stylus profilometry with high sensitivity Talystep and lower sensitivity Talysurf machines. Though the integrated fluence of O atoms on the LDEF was 30 times that of previous missions, etch depths of the polymers such as the polyimide Kapton show excellent agreement with extrapolations from previous flight data. However, some new effects were observed. We demonstrated on a previous experiment on STS-8 that profilometry of this kind can show steps of 50 A (for example those due to oxide film growth on metals) and this is now the preferred method for estimating etch depth (or mass loss) of erodible substances.

Gregory, John C.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Uncertainty Analysis of Air Radiation for Lunar Return Shock Layers

By leveraging a new uncertainty markup technique, two risk analysis methods are used to compute the uncertainty of lunar-return shock layer radiation predicted by the High temperature Aerothermodynamic Radiation Algorithm (HARA). The effects of epistemic uncertainty, or uncertainty due to a lack of knowledge, is considered for the following modeling parameters: atomic line oscillator strengths, atomic line Stark broadening widths, atomic photoionization cross sections, negative ion photodetachment cross sections, molecular bands oscillator strengths, and electron impact excitation rates. First, a simplified shock layer problem consisting of two constant-property equilibrium layers is considered. The results of this simplified problem show that the atomic nitrogen oscillator strengths and Stark broadening widths in both the vacuum ultraviolet and infrared spectral regions, along with the negative ion continuum, are the dominant uncertainty contributors. Next, three variable property stagnation-line shock layer cases are analyzed: a typical lunar return case and two Fire II cases. For the near-equilibrium lunar return and Fire 1643-second cases, the resulting uncertainties are very similar to the simplified case. Conversely, the relatively nonequilibrium 1636-second case shows significantly larger influence from electron impact excitation rates of both atoms and molecules. For all cases, the total uncertainty in radiative heat flux to the wall due to epistemic uncertainty in modeling parameters is 30% as opposed to the erroneously-small uncertainty levels (plus or minus 6%) found when treating model parameter uncertainties as aleatory (due to chance) instead of epistemic (due to lack of knowledge).

Kleb, Bil↗
NASA NTRS1991

Generalizing Atoms in Constraint Logic

This paper studies the generalization of atomic formulas, or atoms, that are augmented with constraints on or among their terms. The atoms may also be viewed as definite clauses whose antecedents express the constraints. Atoms are generalized relative to a body of background information about the constraints. This paper first examines generalization of atoms with only monadic constraints. The paper develops an algorithm for the generalization task and discusses algorithm complexity. It then extends the algorithm to apply to atoms with constraints of arbitrary arity. The paper also presents semantic properties of the generalizations computed by the algorithms, making the algorithms applicable to such problems as abduction, induction, and knowledge base verification. The paper emphasizes the application to induction and presents a pac-learning result for constrained atoms.

Page, C. David, Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Analysis of the physical atomic forces between noble gas atoms, alkali ions and halogen ions

The physical forces between atoms and molecules are important in a number of processes of practical importance, including line broadening in radiative processes, gas and crystal properties, adhesion, and thin films. The components of the physical forces between noble gas atoms, alkali ions, and halogen ions are analyzed and a data base for the dispersion forces is developed from the literature based on evaluations with the harmonic oscillator dispersion model for higher order coefficients. The Zener model of the repulsive core is used in the context of the recent asymptotic wave functions of Handler and Smith; and an effective ionization potential within the Handler and Smith wave functions is defined to analyze the two body potential data of Waldman and Gordon, the alkali-halide molecular data, and the noble gas crystal and salt crystal data. A satisfactory global fit to this molecular and crystal data is then reproduced by the model to within several percent. Surface potentials are evaluated for noble gas atoms on noble gas and salt crystal surfaces with surface tension neglected. Within this context, the noble gas surface potentials on noble gas and salt crystals are considered to be accurate to within several percent.

Wilson, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Space environmental effects on spacecraft thermal control coatings

A large portion of the space based applications in the near future are for low Earth orbit (LEO) including the Space Station Freedom (SSF). The lifetime needs for materials on the SSF is 30 years. Materials must be selected which can withstand the deleterious effects of LEO. Environmental effects in the LEO include atomic oxygen, UV, ionizing radiation, and hypervelocity impact. These effects can adversely affect the surface properties of materials. This is particularly critical in the case of thermal control materials where the efficiency of the thermal control is dependent on the stability of the surface properties. The current baseline thermal coating for the SSF radiators is Ag Teflon. The surface property requirements for the coatings are a solar absorptance of 0.2 and an infrared emittance of 0.8. The effects of atomic oxygen and UV radiation on the baseline coating and several other candidate thermal control materials were studied. The thermal control radiator materials included Ag and Al backed Teflon, H2SO4 anodized Al, sputter deposited SiO2 on Al, and Ag and Al backed polychloro trifluoroethylene. The simulation of several of the LEO environment constituents provided a data base to aid in the selection of the radiator thermal control material to meet the life requirements of the SSF. The effects are illustrated of the environment on thermal control coatings and the importance of this factor in the selection process for long life spacecraft materials.

Bartosik, L. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The Role of Entrained Surface Oxides in RS-PM Aluminum Alloys on Resultant Structures and Properties

The RS-PM aluminum alloys which show less than anticipated toughness properties were studied. After eliminating negative variables such as sodium and potassium in lithium containing alloys, hydrogen in all Al alloys, and trapped impurities from the atomization processing the data pointed to fine oxides, as the primary cause of poor toughness properties. The oxide content of aluminum powders increases with: decreasing powder size, deviations from spherical powder shapes, exposure to moist atmospheres either during atomization or in subsequent powder handling, and alloy compositions which contain significant amounts of lithium, magnesium, cerium, and other reactive elements.

Grant, N. J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Conductive Tether Coating for Electrodynamic Tethers

The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS), which is an on-orbit demonstration of the propulsion capabilities of electrodynamic tethers in space, is a secondary payload on a Delta 11 unmanned expendable booster. The ProSEDS tether consists of a 5 km bare electrodynamic tether and a 1 0-km non-conductive leader tether. Near the Delta 11, 160 m of the conductive tether is insulated to prevent plasma electron collection from the plasma contactor and for other science requirements. The remainder of the 5-km conductive tether is coated with a new conductive coating to collect plasma electrons. A bare metal tether easily collects electrons from the plasma, but thermal concerns preclude this design. A highly emissive conductive polymer developed by Triton Systems, Inc. has been optimized for both conductivity and thermo-optical properties. The current design for the ProSEDS conductive tether is seven individually coated strands of 28 AWG aluminum wire, coated with an atomic oxygen-resistant conductive polymer composed of a mixture of COR (Colorless Oxygen Resistant) and polyanaline (PANI) known as C-COR (Conductive-Colorless Oxygen Resistant). The conductive-coated wire strands are cold-welded to individually coated strands of the insulated tether. The insulated tether is coated with 1 mil of polyimide and an atomic oxygen resistant polymer TOR-BP. The insulated tether must stand off the entire voltage of the tether (1 200 V) at various times during the mission. All seven wires are twisted around a Kevlar-29 core using the Hi-wire design. Extensive testing has been performed at the Marshall Space Flight Center to qualify both the conductive coating and insulating coating for use on the ProSEDS tether. The conductive coating has been exposed to a plasma to verify the coatings ability to collect electrons from the space plasma from 0 to 1500 V, and to verify the coatings ability to collect electrons after atomic oxygen exposure. The insulated coating has been tested to verify its dielectric strength both in a vacuum and air. Thermal optical properties on both coatings have been measured before and after atomic oxygen testing. The results of these tests will be presented.

Jason A Vaughn↗
NASA NTRS1985

Study on effects of powder and flake chemistry and morphology on the properties of Al-Cu-Mg-X-X-X powder metallurgy advanced aluminum alloys

The effects of alloy chemistry and particulate morphology on consolidation behavior and consolidated product properties in rapid solidification processed, powder-metallurgical Al-3Li-1.5Cu-1Mg-0.5Co-0.2Zr and Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-Fe-Ni-0.2Zr extrusions and forgings were studied. Microstructures and mechanical properties of both alloys are largely unaffected by particulate production method (vacuum atomization, ultrasonic atomization, or twin-roller quenching) and by particulate solidification rates between 1000 and 100,000 K/s. Consolidation processing by canning, cold compaction, degassing, and hot extrusion is sufficient to yield mechanical properties in the non-Li-containing alloy extrusions which are similar to those of 7075-Al, but ductilities and fracture toughnesses are inferior owing to poor interparticle bonding caused by lack of a vacuum-hot-pressing step during consolidation. Mechanical properties of extrusions are superior to those of forgings owing to the stronger textures produced by the more severe hot working during extrusion. The effects on mechanical properties of dispersoid size and volume fraction, substructural refinement, solid solution strengthening by Mg, and precipitate size and distribution are elucidated for both alloy types.

Meschter, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Modified Truncated Cone Target Hyperthermal Atomic Oxygen Test Results

The modified truncated cone target is a docking target planned for use on the International Space Station. The current design consists of aluminum treated with a black dye anodize, then crosshairs are laser etched for a silvery color. Samples of the treated aluminum were exposed to laboratory simulation of atomic oxygen and ultraviolet radiation to determine if significant degradation might occur. Durability was evaluated based on the contrast ratio between the black and silvery white areas of the target. Degradation of optical properties appeared to level off after an initial period of exposure to atomic oxygen. The sample that was not alodined according to MIL-C-5541, type 1A, performed better than alodined samples.

Vaughn, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1961

Semi-Annual Report: October 15, 1961

Investigations are proposed involving an experimental and theoretical program designed to investigate various properties of the structure of helium both in its atomic form and in the aggregates of the liquid and solid states. The key to the possibilities of performing the experiments lies in the relatively weak electric fields existing in liquid and solid helium and the possibility of producing external fields almost comparable with the internal fields. It is proposed to examine a) the melting pressure curve for helium as a function of electric field b) the dielectric constant of helium as a function of pressure and electric field c) in future, the effect of electric fields on the lambda transition. From the results of these experiments one would expect to be able to gather at least corroborative evidence on a) the crystal structure of solid helium on b) the effect of the Van der Waal interaction of the electric polarizability of helium, c) the possibility of producing helium molecules d) the effective volume available to helium atoms in the liquid and possibly e) the effect of particle interactions on the Bose-Einstein condensation.

HELIUM↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mechanical properties of electron-beam-melted molybdenum and dilute molybdenum-rhenium alloys

A study of molybdenum and three dilute molybdenum-rhenium alloys was undertaken to determine the effects of rhenium on the low temperature ductility and other mechanical properties of molybdenum. Alloys containing 3.9, 5.9, and 7.7 atomic percent rhenium exhibited lower ductile-brittle transition temperatures than did the unalloyed molybdenum. The maximum improvement in the annealed condition was observed for molybdenum - 7.7 rhenium, which had a ductile-brittle transition temperature approximately 200 C (360 F) lower than that for unalloyed molybdenum. Rhenium additions also increased the low and high temperature tensile strengths and the high temperature creep strength of molybdenum. The mechanical behavior of dilute molybdenum-rhenium alloys is similar to that observed for dilute tungsten-rhenium alloys.

Klopp, W. D.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Effect of downstream massive blowing on Jovian entry heating.

An analysis for viscous radiating shock layer flow over a blunt body with massive blowing is presented. Detailed equilibrium computations for the thermodynamics and transport properties are included in the solution. Molecular band and atomic line, as well as continuum radiation are included. For a typical Jovian entry problem, a 40% reduction in total radiative flux at stagnation point, due to the injection of carbon gas, was found. The reduction increases to about 70% at about four body nose radii downstream. The increase of flux reduction indicates that most of the radiative energy is absorbed by the injected carbon gas and dumped into the wake. An examination of the spectral distribution of the surface radiative flux reveals that most of the flux reduction occurs in molecular bands of C2.

Chou, Y. S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Equation of state and phase diagram of dense hydrogen

The equation of state of hydrogen was calculated for specific volumes ranging from 0.01 to 0.0001 cm3/mole and for temperatures ranging from 200 to 1 million K. Three phases are considered: the molecular solid, the metallic solid and the fluid. Chemical equilibrium between molecules, atoms, ions and electrons is considered in calculating the properties of the fluid phase. Transitions between the three phases will be discussed. The triple point, where the three phases coexist, is calculated to occur at 2.3 Mbar and 1679 K. At higher temperatures and pressures, the molecular solid is unstable.

Kerley, G. I.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Carbon-fiber technology

The state of the art of PAN based carbon fiber manufacture and the science of fiber behavior is surveyed. A review is given of the stabilization by oxidation and the subsequent carbonization of fibers, of the apparent structure of fibers deduced from scanning electron microscopy, from X-ray scattering, and from similarities with soft carbons, and of the known relations between fiber properties and heat treatment temperature. A simplified model is invoked to explain the electrical properties of fibers and recent quantum chemical calculations on atomic clusters are used to elucidate some aspects of fiber conductivity. Some effects of intercalation and oxidative modification of finished fibers are summarized.

Hansen, C. F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

On the line Q degradation in hydrogen masers

In hydrogen masers, the atomic resonance quality factor is largely determined by the properties of the Teflon coating on the quartz storage bulb. Normally a good Teflon coating will last many years. On the other hand, there may be a relatively fast degradation of the quality factor if the Teflon coating is bad. A series of observations and measurements performed on an hydrogen maser that had successively a bad and a good Teflon coating are discussed.

Bernier, L. G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Equivalent crystal theory of alloys

Equivalent Crystal Theory (ECT) is a new, semi-empirical approach to calculating the energetics of a solid with defects. The theory has successfully reproduced surface energies in metals and semiconductors. The theory of binary alloys to date, both with first-principles and semi-empirical models, has not been very successful in predicting the energetics of alloys. This procedure is used to predict the heats of formation, cohesive energy, and lattice parameter of binary alloys of Cu, Ni, Al, Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt as functions of composition. The procedure accurately reproduces the heats of formation versus composition curves for a variety of binary alloys. The results are then compared with other approaches such as the embedded atom and lattice parameters of alloys from pure metal properties more accurately than Vegard's law is presented.

Bozzolo, Guillermo↗