Analysis of sorbents and catalysts used during a 90-day manned test
Chemical analysis of organic trace contaminants in simulated space station atmospheres desorbed from molecular sieve, silicon gel, and catalyst beds
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Chemical analysis of organic trace contaminants in simulated space station atmospheres desorbed from molecular sieve, silicon gel, and catalyst beds
Damkohler analysis of nitrogen-silica gel absorption isotherm in multimolecular range, noting vapor phase transport and absorbed phase diffusivities
Gel permeation chromatography for polymer molecules size /hydrodynamic volume/ separation
Diamond impregnated abrasive cloth eliminated expensive diamond pastes and was economically disposed of to avoid contamination. Cloth was spunbonded nylon, but any napless fabric could be used. Cloth was sprayed with diamond abrasive gel.
Aerospace applications of elastomers are considered, including: propellant binders, bladder materials for liquid propellant expulsion systems, and fuel tank sealants for high-speed aircraft. A comprehensive molecular theory for mechanical properties of these materials has been developed but has only been tested experimentally in cases where chemical degradation processes are excluded. Hence, a study is being conducted to ascertain the nature, extent, and rate of chemical changes that take place in some elastomers of interest. Chemical changes that may take place in the fluorosilicone elastomer, LS 420, which is regarded as a fuel and high-temperature-resistant rubber are investigated. The kinetic analysis of the chemical stress relaxation and gel permeation chromatography studies comprise the major portion of the report.
A leak detection system has been developed, consisting of a tape that can be wrapped around possible leak sites on a system pressurized with air or gaseous nitrogen. Carbon monoxide, at a level of 100 to 1000 parts per million is used as a trace gas in the pressurized system. The sensitive element of the tape is palladium chloride supported on specially prepared silica gel and specially dried. At a CO level of 100 ppm and a leak rate of 10-20 ml/hr, discoloration of the sensitive element is observed in 1.5 to 3 min. The tape and trace gas are compatible with aerospace hardware, safe to handle, and economically reasonable to produce and handle.
Gel filtration and radioimmunoassay were used to determine the molecular size and immunochemical reactivity of parathyroid hormone present in gland extracts, in the general peripheral circulation, and in parathyroid effluent blood from patients with hyperparathyroidism, as well as from calves and from cattle. It was found that parathyroid hormone secreted from the parathyroids in man and cattle is at least as large as the molecule extracted from normal bovine glands. However, once secreted into the circulation the hormone is cleaved, and one or more fragments, immunologically, dissimilar to the originally secreted hormone, constitute the dominant form of circulating immunoreactive hormone.
A computer program is described which can be used to predict the transient performance of vacuum-desorbed sorbent beds for CO2 or water removal, and composite beds of two sorbents for simultaneous humidity control and CO2 removal. The program was written primarily for silica gel and molecular sieve inorganic sorbents, but can be used for a variety of adsorbent materials. Part 2 of this report describes a computer program which can be used to predict performance for multiple-bed CO2-removal sorbent systems. This program is an expanded version of the composite sorbent bed program described in Part 1.
The continuation of a study to ascertain the nature, extent, and the rate of chemical changes that take place in certain selected elastomers is reported. Under discussion is Viton B, regarded as a temperature and fuel resistant fluorocarbon rubber. The kinetic analysis of the chemical stress relaxation, and infrared and gel permeation chromatography analysis results are discussed.
Attempts to prepare low molecular weight, curable poly-(fluoroalkoxyphosphazenes) have been successful. Derivatization of /Cl2PN/n polymer with alkoxides gave functionally reactive terpolymers. These terpolymers could be crosslinked with polyisocyanates at room temperature. Attempts to control molecular weight have not been as successful. The effects of (Cl2PN)3 monomer purity, use of (Cl2PN)3,4 mixture, and early termination of the bulk polymerization of (Cl2PN)3 were studied briefly. Both low and high molecular weight polymers were obtained. Reaction of NH4Cl with PCl5 with subsequent heating to give chain extension gave either gels of oils with molecular weights of several thousand. The stabilization of poly-(fluoroalkoxyphosphazene) was investigated. The results generally were inconclusive, but acids were found to be deleterious while bases had little discernible effect. Improvements in stability by modification of end groups was inconclusive.
Investigations were made on methods for the removal of ammonia and to a lesser extent nitrogen oxides in low concentrations from air. The catalytic oxidation of ammonia was studied over a temperature range of 250 F to 600 F and a concentration range 20 ppm to 500 ppm. Of the catalysts studied, 0.5 percent ruthenium supported on alumina was found to be superior. This material is active at temperatures as low as 250 F and was found to produce much less nitrous oxide than the other two active catalysts, platinum on alumina and Hopcalite. A quantitative design model was developed which will permit the performance of an oxidizer to be calculated. The ruthenium was found to be relatively insensitive to low concentrations of water and to oxygen concentration between 21 percent and 100 percent. Hydrogen sulfide was found to be a poison when injected in relatively large quantities. The adsorption of ammonia by copper sulfate treated silica gel was investigated at temperatures of 72 F and 100 F. A quantitative model was developed for predicting adsorption bed behavior.
Experimental and analytic studies were conducted with molecular sieve sorbents to provide basic design information, and to develop a system design technique for regenerable CO2-removal systems for manned spacecraft. Single sorbate equilibrium data were obtained over a wide range of conditions for CO2, water, nitrogen, and oxygen on several molecular sieve and silica gel sorbents. The coadsorption of CO2 with water preloads, and with oxygen and nitrogen was experimentally evaluated. Mass-transfer, and some limited heat-transfer performance evaluations were accomplished under representative operating conditions, including the coadsorption of CO2 and water. CO2-removal system performance prediction capability was derived.
A series of DEAB initiated isoprene polymerizations were run in the 5-gallon stirred autoclave reactor. Polymerization run parameters such as initiator concentration and feed rate were correlated with the molecular weight to provide a basis for molecular weight control in future runs. Synthetic methods were developed for the preparation of n-1,3-alkadienes. By these methods, 1,3-nonadiene was polymerized using DEAB initiator to give an ester-telechelic polynonadiene. This was subsequently hydrogenated with copper chromite catalyst to give a hydroxyl terminated saturated liquid hydrocarbon prepolymer having greatly improved viscosity characteristics and a Tg 18 degrees lower than that of the hydrogenated polyisoprenes. The hydroxyl-telechelic saturated polymers prepared by the hydrogenolysis of ester-telechelic polyisoprene were reached with diisocyanates under conditions favoring linear chain extension gel permeation chromatography was used to monitor this condensation polymerization. Fractions having molecular weights above one million were produced.
A description is given of highly stable polyurethane polymers prepared by reacting a polyether with a diisocyanate. Compounded stocks of these polymers may be shaped and cured in conventional equipment used in the rubber industry. The solutions are dispersed gels prepared from the polymers and may be used for forming supported or unsupported films for coating fabrics or solid surfaces, and for forming adhesive bonds between a wide variety of plastics, elastomers, fabrics, metals, wood, leather, ceramics and the like.
After processing parts for assembly, insulative cup is fitted to bottom of can, then electrolytic solution consisting of white sulfuric acid gel is inserted into can. Pellet is put in can and is fitted tightly into cup. Finally, bead weld is formed between can and header plug.
A program was conducted to evaluate the performance of various lubricants in use and considered for use at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The overall objectives of the program were to: (1) determine the lubrication characteristics and relative corrosion resistance of lubricants in use and proposed for use at KSC; (2) identify materials which may be equivalent to or better than KELF-90 and Krytox 240 AC greases; and (3) identify or develop an improved lubricating oil suitable for use in liquid oxygen (LOX) pumps at KSC. It was concluded that: (1) earth gel thickened greases are very poor corrosion preventive materials in the KSC environment; (2) Halocarbon 25-5S and Braycote 656 were suitable substiutes for KELF-90 and Krytox 240 AC respectively; and (3) none of the oils evaluated possessed the necessary inertness, lubricity, and corrosion prevention characteristics for the KSC LOX pumping systems in their present configuration.
A regenerable sorbent system was investigated for controlling the humidity and carbon dioxide concentration of the space shuttle cabin atmosphere. The sorbents considered for water and carbon dioxide removal were silica gel and molecular sieves. Bed optimization and preliminary system design are discussed along with system optimization studies and weight penalites.
The Category A computer systems at KSC (Al and A2) which perform scientific and business/administrative operations are described. This data division is responsible for scientific requirements supporting Saturn, Atlas/Centaur, Titan/Centaur, Titan III, and Delta vehicles, and includes realtime functions, Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP), and the Space Shuttle. The work is performed chiefly on the GEL-635 (Al) system located in the Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF). The Al system can perform computations and process data in three modes: (1) real-time critical mode; (2) real-time batch mode; and (3) batch mode. The Division's IBM-360/50 (A2) system, also at the CIF, performs business/administrative data processing such as personnel, procurement, reliability, financial management and payroll, real-time inventory management, GSE accounting, preventive maintenance, and integrated launch vehicle modification status.