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At least 433 records · Page 24

Analysis of individual particles collected from the stratosphere.

Four classified types of particles in stratospheric balloon collections include chains, aggregates, crystals, and irregular solids which are often liquid coated. An analysis has been made of many individual particles using an X-ray detector on a scanning electron microscope. Chain type particles are composed entirely of elements lighter than sodium. All other particle types are composed mostly of various combinations of the elements Al, Si, Na, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Ti, and S. The most common element group is Al, Si, Ca or K, and Fe, followed by sulfur or calcium alone. At lower altitudes (12-15 km), liquid is usually associated with the particles and sulfur is prominent. At higher altitudes (23-36 km), liquids and sulfur are usually absent. However, when liquids are occasionally found, so is sulfur. Particles collected with NASA aircraft at 12 km also contain mostly the Al, Si, Ca, Fe element group with associated sulfur, or sulfur alone.

Farlow, N. H.↗

Determination of Burgers vectors in close-packed metals using g.b = 2 contrast.

Reexamination of dislocation images giving double contrast in the electron microscope for g.b = 2 as a possible means for Burgers vector determinations. In fcc foils which have been cut parallel to an active slip plane, the g.b = 2 criterion provides a quick positive Burgers vector analysis which can be carried out during observation. The method is also applicable to basal dislocations in hcp. A comparison between calculated two-beam profiles and experimental images in aluminum is discussed, and several commonly observed characteristics of g.b = 2 contrast are described.

Kestenbach, H.-J.↗

Phase transformations and exsolution in lunar and terrestrial calcic plagioclases.

A coarse domain structure had been discovered in plagioclase in an electron microscopic study of lunar rocks reported by Christie et al. (1971). The domain structures are described in more detail, and their significance in the light of current knowledge concerning the crystal structures of the plagioclases is discussed. An exsolution texture is also described. On the basis of the scale of exsolution it appears that the Apollo 11 and 12 basalts examined cooled more rapidly than the Apollo 14 basalt, which in turn cooled more rapidly than the Stillwater rock.

Heuer, A. H.↗

Electron microscopy - A glimpse into the future.

A forecast attempt is presented on future advances in electron microscopic studies of membrane systems. A review of recent advances and present trends is followed by a discussion of prerequisites to further progress. Special attention is given to research areas of particular promise.

Fernandez-Moran, H.↗

Reliability of hybrid microcircuit discrete components

Data accumulated during 4 years of research and evaluation of ceramic chip capacitors, ceramic carrier mounted active devices, beam-lead transistors, and chip resistors are presented. Life and temperature coefficient test data, and optical and scanning electron microscope photographs of device failures are presented and the failure modes are described. Particular interest is given to discrete component qualification, power burn-in, and procedures for testing and screening discrete components. Burn-in requirements and test data will be given in support of 100 percent burn-in policy on all NASA flight programs.

Allen, R. V.↗

Weldability, strength, and high temperature stability of chemically vapor deposited tungsten

Three types of CVD tungsten (fluoride-produced, chloride-produced and the combination of the two which is termed duplex) were evaluated to determine their weldability, high temperature strength and structural stability during 5000 hour exposure to temperatures of 1540 C and 1700 C. Each type of CVD tungsten could be successfully electron beam welded but the results for the chloride product were not as satisfactory as those of the other two materials. The high temperature strength behavior of the three materials did not differ greatly. However a large difference was noted for the grain growth behavior of the two basic CVD tungsten materials. Fluoride tungsten was found to be relatively stable while for the most part the grain size of chloride tungsten increased appreciably. The examination of freshly fractured surfaces with a scanning electron microscope revealed numerous bubbles in the fluoride material following its exposure to 1700 C for 5000 hours. Less severe thermal treatments produced relatively few bubbles in this material. Only at certain locations within the chloride material associated with the interruption of tungsten were bubbles noted.

Bryant, W. A.↗

Investigation of the plastic fracture of high strength steels

This investigation deals in detail with the three recognized stages of plastic fracture in high strength steels, namely, void initiation, void growth, and void coalescence. The particular steels under investigation include plates from both commercial purity and high purity heats of AISI 4340 and 18 Ni, 200 grade maraging steels. A scanning electron microscope equipped with an X-ray energy dispersive analyzer, together with observations made using light microscopy, revealed methods of improving the resistance of high strength steels to plastic fracture.

Cox, T. B.↗

Cytological studies of lunar treated tissue cultures

An electron microscopic study was made of botanical materials, particularly pine tissues, treated with lunar materials collected by Apollo 12 quarantine mission. Results show unusual structural changes within several of the treated tissues. The bodies, as yet unidentified, resemble virus particles observed within infected plant cells. Although the size and shape of the structures are comparable to rod shaped virus particles such as Tobacco mosaic, the numerical distribution, affinity for stains, and intercellular location are different.

Halliwell, R. S.↗

An Exploratory Study of the Microstructure of Mullite Fibers

The microstructures of mullite composition fibers were examined by transmission electron microscopic techniques and by X-ray diffraction analyses. Both spun and monofilament fiber structures contained little porosity, nor did the degree of porosity change after heating the monofilament to 1205 C for one half hour. Thermal exposure produced crystallite growth and nucleation from the amorphous phase in all three of the spun fibers. After 116 hours at 1426 C, the crystallites of the standard spun fibers became contiguous. In addition, the surface crystallites of these fibers were found to be more than twice as large as the interior crystallites.

Santoro, G.↗

Experimental approaches to well controlled studies of thin-film nucleation and growth.

Particular features and the performance of two experimental systems are described for quantitative studies of thin-film nucleation and growth processes including epitaxial depositions. System I consists of a modified LEED-Auger instrument combined with high-resolution electron microscopy. System II is a UHV electron microscope adapted for in-situ deposition studies. The two systems complement each other ideally, and the combined use of both can result in a comprehensive investigation of vapor deposition processes not obtainable with any other known method.

Poppa, H.↗

Optical computing.

Applications of the optical computer include an approach for increasing the sharpness of images obtained from the most powerful electron microscopes and fingerprint/credit card identification. The information-handling capability of the various optical computing processes is very great. Modern synthetic-aperture radars scan upward of 100,000 resolvable elements per second. Fields which have assumed major importance on the basis of optical computing principles are optical image deblurring, coherent side-looking synthetic-aperture radar, and correlative pattern recognition. Some examples of the most dramatic image deblurring results are shown.

Stroke, G. W.↗

Electron microscopy of some experimentally shocked counterparts of lunar minerals.

Particulate samples of experimentally shocked olivine, enstatite, and apatite and their unshocked equivalents were thinned by ion bombardment and examined by transmission methods in a conventional (100 kV) electron microscope. Enstatite shock-loaded at a peak pressure of 250 kb was partly transformed to relatively dense inverse defect spinel. Magnesian olivine shocked at a peak pressure of 200 kb shows intense lattice deformation. Magnesian olivine shock-loaded at a peak pressure of 400 kb was recrystallized to very fine polycrystalline aggregates. Apatite shock-loaded at a peak pressure of 250 kb shows planar deformation elements and shock-induced imperfections.

Sclar, C. B.↗

CESEMI studies of Apollo 14 and 15 fines.

Quantitative size and shape analyses have been carried out on six lunar fines from Apollo 14 and 15 by computer evaluation of scanning electron microscope images (CESEMI). For the size range of 0.50 to 30 microns diameter, the distributions are log-normal on a number count basis. This finding is in contrast with results for coarser materials in the fines reported by King et al. suggesting the operation of a different process. Aspect ratios range from 0.1 to 1.0 with an average value of about 0.6. Only slight differences are observed among samples. A shape complexity factor (ratio of particle perimeter to ellipse perimeter) also varies only slightly among the six samples.

Gorz, H.↗

Profiling microcraters using stereomicrographs.

The determination of the population, shape, and size of microcraters on lunar rocks enables space scientists to study cosmic erosion, survival times of rocks on the lunar surface, and the flux of primary cosmic particles. A graphical method of profiling and contouring microcraters on lunar rocks from a pair of stereomicrographs obtained by a scanning electron microscope was developed. The graphical method utilizes the simple geometry of photography generated by a parallel bundle of rays, orthogonal to the image plane.

Malhotra, R. C.↗

Preliminary results from the noctilucent sampling from Kiruna in 1970.

On Aug. 8, 1970 at 0148 and 0354 local time, two Pandora sounding rocket payloads were launched from the ESRO range in Kiruna, Sweden, during a noctilucent cloud display. Large numbers of particles were collected, many of which appear to be micrometeorites coated with a low density material. Typical electron micrographs are shown, and numerical densities as a function of altitude are given. Particle composition information has been obtained by use of dispersive X-ray analysis equipment attached to our Philips EM 300 electron microscope.

Hallgren, D. S.↗

Unusual chemical compositions of noctilucent-cloud particle nuclei

Two sounding rocket payloads were launched from the ESRO range in Sweden during a noctilucent cloud display. Large numbers of submicron particles were collected, most of which appear to be made up of a high density material coated with a low density material. Typical electron micrographs are shown. Particle chemical compositions have been measured by use of dispersive X-ray analysis equipment attached to an electron microscope and have revealed that most of the high density particle nuclei have atomic weights greater than iron.

Hemenway, C. L.↗

Investigations in space-related molecular biology

Improved instrumentation and preparation techniques for high resolution, high voltage cryo-electron microscopic and diffraction studies on terrestrial and extraterrestrial specimens are reported. Computer correlated ultrastructural and biochemical work on hydrated and dried cell membranes and related biological systems provided information on membrane organization, ice crystal formation and ordered water, RNA virus linked to cancer, lunar rock samples, and organometallic superconducting compounds. Apollo 11, 12, 14, and 15 specimens were analyzed

Fernandez-Moran, H.↗

Research on wood bending in a macrosonic field

Woodworking often requires the wood to be bent into different shapes. In view of the fact that macrosonic waves compress and expand the medium through which they are being propagated we assumed that wood subjected to the action of these waves during the bending process would have enhanced plasticity as a result of the loosening-up that takes place in it, as well as of the reduction in effort. To this effect, the bending of wood plasticized in a macrosonic field was studied. This bending took place under good conditions, and structural analyses conducted with the aid of an electron microscope proved initial premises to be corrent. Applied on an industrial scale, this procedure would contribute to improving the technology of wood bending as well as to eliminating factory spoilage.

Filipovici, J.↗