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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 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Experimental and computational studies of load ratio effect on fatigue crack growth rates in Alloy 709 at elevated temperatures

Abstract Experimental testing and finite element simulations of fatigue crack growth were performed in austenitic 20Cr‐25Ni (Alloy 709) steel at different load ratios and elevated temperatures. The experimental tests were performed using compact tension specimens, and crack growth rates were measured at stress intensity factors ranging between 5 and 35 MPa√m. Fractographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy indicated crack surface roughness and secondary cracking depending on testing temperature and load ratio. Finite element simulations of fatigue crack growth were performed to compute plasticity‐induced crack opening loads and predict crack growth rates. Predictions of fatigue crack growth rates using finite element simulations were performed using the computed crack‐tip opening loads, and they are shown to match well the experimental measurements.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2024

Role of Cell Wall Polysaccharides in Water Distribution During Seed Imbibition of Hymenaea courbaril L.

Seed water imbibition is critical to seedling establishment in tropical forests. The seeds of the neotropical tree Hymenaea courbaril have no oil reserves and have been used as a model to study storage cell wall polysaccharide (xyloglucan - XyG) mobilization.We studied pathways of water imbibition in Hymenaea seeds. To understand seed features, we performed carbohydrate analysis and scanning electron microscopy. We found that the seed coat comprises a palisade of lignified cells, below which are several cell layers with cell walls rich in pectin. The cotyledons are composed mainly of storage XyG. From a single point of scarification on the seed surface, we followed water imbibition pathways in the entire seed using fluorescent dye and NMRi spectroscopy. We constructed composites of cellulose with Hymenaea pectin or XyG. In vitro experiments demonstrated cell wall polymer capacity to imbibe water, with XyG imbibition much slower than the pectin-rich layer of the seed coat.We found that water rapidly crosses the lignified layer and reaches the pectin-rich palisade layer so that water rapidly surrounds the whole seed. Water travels very slowly in cotyledons (most of the seed mass) because it is imbibed in the XyG-rich storage walls. However, there are channels among the cotyledon cells through which water travels rapidly, so the primary cell walls containing pectins will retain water around each storage cell.The different seed tissue dynamic interactions between water and wall polysaccharides (pectins and XyG) are essential to determining water distribution and preparing the seed for germination.

arabinoxylan↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ultrastrong colloidal crystal metamaterials engineered with DNA

Lattice-based constructs, often made by additive manufacturing, are attractive for many applications. Typically, such constructs are made from microscale or larger elements; however, smaller nanoscale components can lead to more unusual properties, including greater strength, lighter weight, and unprecedented resiliencies. Here, solid and hollow nanoparticles (nanoframes and nanocages; frame size: ~15 nanometers) were assembled into colloidal crystals using DNA, and their mechanical strengths were studied. Nanosolid, nanocage, and nanoframe lattices with identical crystal symmetries exhibit markedly different specific stiffnesses and strengths. Unexpectedly, the nanoframe lattice is approximately six times stronger than the nanosolid lattice. Nanomechanical experiments, electron microscopy, and finite element analysis show that this property results from the buckling, densification, and size-dependent strain hardening of nanoframe lattices. Last, these unusual open architectures show that lattices with structural elements as small as 15 nanometers can retain a high degree of strength, and as such, they represent target components for making and exploring a variety of miniaturized devices.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sequential multidimensional heteroepitaxy of chalcogen-sharing 3D ZnSe and 2D MoSe 2 with quasi van der Waals interface engineering

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are emerging as a promising platform for epitaxial growth, largely free from the constraints of lattice constant and thermal expansion coefficient mismatches. Among them, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), known for their superior electrical properties, are ideal for ultrathin semiconductor applications. Their unique epitaxial characteristics enable seamless integration with 3D materials, facilitating the development of gate stacks and heterojunction devices. In this regard, developing a process for growing high-quality 3D epitaxial materials before and after the growth of 2D TMDs and understanding the 2D/3D interface are crucial. This study demonstrates the sequential growth of fully epitaxial ZnSe/MoSe 2 /ZnSe heterostructures using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. ZnSe and MoSe 2 , sharing chalcogen elements, enable large-area quasi van der Waals epitaxy with sharp interfaces without intermediate phase. Multiscale analysis involving transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculation reveals lattice commensurability, van der Waals gaps, termination, and interfacial reconstruction. Understanding these interactions is crucial for advancing multidimensional integration of 2D and 3D materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Compatibilization Strategy and Mechanism for Co-stabilizing Commingled Plastics and Pyrolyzed Rubber in Asphalt

Hot mix asphalt mixture is considered the ideal approach to reuse waste plastics in high-value applications because of its very high amount of usage in highway construction. However, the differences in polarity and density between polymers and asphalt lead to polymer coalescence and therefore the poor storage stability of modified asphalt. These challenges are exalted when recycling commingled plastics. This study introduced an innovative compatibilization strategy and mechanism for co-stabilizing commingled plastics and pyrolyzed rubber in asphalt. Commingled plastics were first grafted with maleic anhydride for surface activation, followed by reactive kneading with pyrolyzed rubber and crosslinking agent to form an integrated thermoplastic elastomer (ITPE) for asphalt modification. The mechanical, thermal, and interfacial behaviors of the ITPE were evaluated through tensile testing, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The storage stability and rheological properties of the modified binder blends were evaluated through the cigar tube test and dynamic shear rheometer testing. Results demonstrated a successful formation of imide bonds in the ITPE, which can improve the strength, ductility, and thermal stability of rubber–plastic composites. Appropriate utilization of crosslinking agents can improve both rutting and fatigue resistance of ITPE-modified asphalt with good storage stability because of the co-existence of rigid plastic and soft rubbery regimes and the formation of a crosslink network. Furthermore, excessive content of crosslinker led to severe phase separation and reduced storage stability of modified binder blends. Extra crosslinker tended to float in asphalt because of its low density and caused an excessive formation of the crosslink network in the top section of the asphalt.

asphalt binder modifiers↗
DOE OSTI2020

Comparison of damage and ablation dynamics of multilayer dielectric films initiated by few-cycle pulses versus longer femtosecond pulses

The importance of high intensity few- to single-cycle laser pulses for applications such as intense isolated attosecond pulse generation is constantly growing, and with the breakdown of the monochromatic approximation in field ionization models, the few-cycle pulse (FCP) interaction with solids near the damage threshold has ushered a new paradigm of nonperturbative light–matter interaction. In this Letter, we systematically study and contrast how femtosecond laser-induced damage and ablation behaviors of SiO 2 /HfO 2 -based reflective multilayer dielectric thin film systems vary between FCP and 110 fs pulses. With time-resolved surface microscopy and ex situ analysis, we show that there are distinct differences in the interaction depending on the pulse duration, specifically in the “blister” morphology formation at lower fluences (damage) as well as in the dynamics of debris formation at higher fluences (ablation).

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

A natural mutation between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV determines neutralization by a cross-reactive antibody

Epitopes that are conserved among SARS-like coronaviruses are attractive targets for design of cross-reactive vaccines and therapeutics. CR3022 is a SARS-CoV neutralizing antibody to a highly conserved epitope on the receptor binding domain (RBD) on the spike protein that is able to cross-react with SARS-CoV-2, but with lower affinity. Using x-ray crystallography, mutagenesis, and binding experiments, we illustrate that of four amino acid differences in the CR3022 epitope between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, a single mutation P384A fully determines the affinity difference. CR3022 does not neutralize SARS-CoV-2, but the increased affinity to SARS-CoV-2 P384A mutant now enables neutralization with a similar potency to SARS-CoV. We further investigated CR3022 interaction with the SARS-CoV spike protein by negative-stain EM and cryo-EM. Three CR3022 Fabs bind per trimer with the RBD observed in different up-conformations due to considerable flexibility of the RBD. In one of these conformations, quaternary interactions are made by CR3022 to the N-terminal domain (NTD) of an adjacent subunit. Overall, this study provides insights into antigenic variation and potential cross-neutralizing epitopes on SARS-like viruses.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nucleation, growth, and superlattice formation of nanocrystals observed in liquid cell transmission electron microscopy

This work reviews the advancements and prospects of liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and analysis methods in understanding the nucleation, growth, etching, and assembly dynamics of nanocrystals. The bonding of atoms into nanoscale crystallites produces materials with nonadditive properties unique to their size and geometry. The recent application of in situ liquid cell TEM to nanocrystal development has initiated a paradigm shift, (1) from trial-and-error synthesis to a mechanistic understanding of the “synthetic reactions” responsible for the emergence of crystallites from a disordered soup of reactive species (e.g., ions, atoms, molecules) and shape-defined growth or etching; and (2) from post-processing characterization of the nanocrystals’ superlattice assemblies to in situ imaging and mapping of the fundamental interactions and energy landscape governing their collective phase behaviors. Imaging nanocrystal formation and assembly processes on the single-particle level in solution immediately impacts many existing fields, including materials science, nanochemistry, colloidal science, biology, environmental science, electrochemistry, mineralization, soft condensed-matter physics, and device fabrication.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Materials data science using CRADLE: A distributed, data-centric approach

Abstract There is a paradigm shift towards data-centric AI, where model efficacy relies on quality, unified data. The common research analytics and data lifecycle environment (CRADLE™) is an infrastructure and framework that supports a data-centric paradigm and materials data science at scale through heterogeneous data management, elastic scaling, and accessible interfaces. We demonstrate CRADLE’s capabilities through five materials science studies: phase identification in X-ray diffraction, defect segmentation in X-ray computed tomography, polymer crystallization analysis in atomic force microscopy, feature extraction from additive manufacturing, and geospatial data fusion. CRADLE catalyzes scalable, reproducible insights to transform how data is captured, stored, and analyzed. Graphical abstract

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Irradiation of Sintered Mo Disks with Presence of Organic Impurities in He Gas Flow

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) is assisting NorthStar Medical Technologies in the development of a domestic supply of 99 Mo. Specifically, the present study focuses on the production of 99 Mo-feed solution used by the RadioGenix™ 99m Tc generator. During the target-irradiation phase of production, impurities can potentially be introduced into the feed, and can lead to disturbance of ligand- 99m Tc complexation chemistry and contamination of the final radiopharmaceutical that directly interacts with the patient. To address this issue, Argonne performed irradiations and chemical processing to identify whether the potential contamination of He flow with hydrocarbon oil during irradiation affects the radiochemical purity of the final K 2 MoO 4 (K 2 TcO 4 ) in 5M KOH solution. To mimic the conditions of real irradiation at NorthStar, Argonne used its electron linear accelerator and Van de Graaff facilities, heated the target and oil source to >800°C, and controlled oxygen in the presence of He during irradiation. Following irradiation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and carbon analysis (CA) were used to detect carbon contamination on the solid targets. The radiochemical purity of the dissolved targets was studied via thin-layer paper chromatography (TLC). As a result of these experiments, small regions of the surface of some irradiated disks were found to be high in carbon, but the total carbon content was still negligible in comparison to the reference sample, which had experienced no irradiation or contact with oil. The summarized results from the SEM, CA, and TLC tests lead to the conclusion that even an excess of oil and heating during irradiation do not affect the radiochemical purity of the final product.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2023

Low-Power Nuclear Heating Tests of UN Fuel Particles in Hydrogen Environment for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Recently, there has been a reemergence of interest within the space-exploration community regarding nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) for interplanetary travel. NTP, as conceptualized, is a compact propulsion source, is relatively light because there is no need for an oxidizing agent and has a very high specific impulse compared to traditional forms of propulsion. These factors would reduce first-leg orbital-rocketry costs (by the source’s low weight and volume) and decrease overall travel time for astronauts with higher transit speeds. Idaho National Laboratory was provided bare, uncoated, and tungsten-coated uranium nitride fuel particles as part of a preliminary investigation. The fuel was fabricated by BWX Technologies and irradiated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology research reactor. X-ray computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy and associated chemical analysis techniques were performed on these particles at Idaho National Laboratory. Both coated and uncoated forms were examined in the as-fabricated and as-irradiated conditions. The tungsten coating was found to be intact following the irradiation, indicating positive attributes for performance under these low-power-irradiation conditions. The irradiation of uncoated particles resulted in nitrogen enrichment at the edge of the particle.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Rapid Oxidation of Uranium Steel Alloys: Combustion Synthesis

This project explored the use of combustion synthesis as a rapid, high-temperature method for oxidizing uranium-bearing steel alloys. Traditional laboratory-scale synthesis methods often fail to replicate the thermal and kinetic conditions experienced by real-world particulates, particularly those formed under rapid quenching or high-temperature scenarios. Combustion synthesis offers a promising alternative by enabling fast, localized heating and flexible precursor selection. A series of targeted experiments were conducted using a U 2 NiCrFe 4 alloy as the precursor. The alloy was oxidized using combustion synthesis reactions fueled by uranyl nitrate and glycine, achieving peak temperatures exceeding 1,200 °C. Postreaction analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental mapping, and Raman spectroscopy revealed the formation of iron-based oxides, with limited but detectable evidence of uranium oxide phases such as UO 2 . The results indicate that under the rapid reaction and cooling conditions of combustion synthesis, iron oxides form preferentially, but uranium oxide formation is kinetically limited. These findings validate combustion synthesis as a viable method for simulating the oxidation behavior of uranium steels in extreme environments and lay the groundwork for future studies aimed at enhancing uranium oxide formation through higher temperatures or modified precursor compositions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Microstructure, Texture, and Strength Development during High-Pressure Torsion of CrMnFeCoNi High-Entropy Alloy

The equiatomic face-centered cubic high-entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi was severely deformed at room and liquid nitrogen temperature by high-pressure torsion up to shear strains of about 170. Its microstructure was analyzed by X-ray line profile analysis and transmission electron microscopy and its texture by X-ray microdiffraction. Microhardness measurements, after severe plastic deformation, were done at room temperature. It is shown that at a shear strain of about 20, a steady state grain size of 24 nm, and a dislocation density of the order of 1016 m−2 is reached. The dislocations are mainly screw-type with low dipole character. Mechanical twinning at room temperature is replaced by a martensitic phase transformation at 77 K. The texture developed at room temperature is typical for sheared face-centered cubic nanocrystalline metals, but it is extremely weak and becomes almost random after high-pressure torsion at 77 K. The strength of the nanocrystalline material produced by high-pressure torsion at 77 K is lower than that produced at room temperature. The results are discussed in terms of different mechanisms of deformation, including dislocation generation and propagation, twinning, grain boundary sliding, and phase transformation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

An Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Compression of Bimetallic Cylinders

This paper investigates the upsetting of bimetallic cylinders with an aluminum alloy center and a brass ring. The influence of the center-ring shape factor and type of assembly fit (interference and clearance), and the effect of friction on the compression force and ductile damage are comprehensively analyzed by means of a combined numerical-experimental approach. Results showed that the higher the shape factor, the lower the forces required, whereas the effect of friction is especially important for cylinders with the lowest shape factors. The type of assembly fit does not influence the compression force. The accumulated ductile damage in the compression of bimetallic cylinders is higher than in single-material cylinders, and the higher the shape factor, the lower the damage for the same amount of stroke. The highest values of damaged were found to occur at the middle plane, and typically in the ring. Results also showed that an interference fit was more favorable for preventing fracture of the ring than a clearance fit. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy revealed a good agreement with the finite element predicted distribution of ductile damage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

ZrN Phase Formation, Hardening and Nitrogen Diffusion Kinetics in Plasma Nitrided Zircaloy-4

Plasma nitridation was conducted to modify the surfaces of Zircaloy-4. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman analysis were used to characterize microstructures and phases. Surface indentation and cross-sectional indentation were performed to evaluate mechanical property changes. Nitridation forms a thin layer of ZrN phase, followed by a much deeper layer affected by nitrogen diffusion. The ZrN phase is confirmed by both TEM and Raman characterization. The Raman peaks of ZrN phase show a temperature dependence. The intensity increases with increasing nitridation temperatures, reaches a maximum at 700 °C, and then decreases at higher temperatures. The ZrN layer appears as continuous small columnar grains. The surface polycrystalline ZrN phase is harder than the bulk by a factor of ~8, and the nitrogen diffusion layer is harder by a factor of ~2–5. The activation energy of nitrogen diffusion was measured to be 2.88 eV. The thickness of the nitrogen-hardened layer is controllable by changing the nitridation temperature and duration.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cost-Effective Thermomechanical Processing of Nanostructured Ferritic Alloys: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Investigation

Nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs), such as oxide-dispersion strengthened (ODS) alloys, play a vital role in advanced fission and fusion reactors, offering superior properties when incorporating nanoparticles under irradiation. Despite their importance, the high cost of mass-producing NFAs through mechanical milling presents a challenge. This study delves into the microstructure-mechanical property correlations of three NFAs produced using a novel, cost-effective approach combining severe plastic deformation (SPD) with the continuous thermomechanical processing (CTMP) method. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) revealed nano-grain structures and phases, while scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) quantified the size and density of Ti-N, Y-O, and Cr-O fine particles. Atom probe tomography (APT) further confirmed the absence of finer Y-O particles and characterized the chemical composition of the particles, suggesting possible nitride dispersion strengthening. Correlation of microstructure and mechanical testing results revealed that CTMP alloys, despite having lower nanoparticle densities, exhibit strength and ductility comparable to mechanically milled ODS alloys, likely due to their fine grain structure. However, higher nanoparticle densities may be necessary to prevent cavity swelling under high-temperature irradiation and helium gas production. Further enhancements in uniform nanoparticle distribution and increased sink strength are recommended to mitigate cavity swelling, advancing their suitability for nuclear applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

In Situ and Post-Mortem Characterizations of Ultrasonic Spot Welded AZ31B and Coated Dual Phase 590 Steel Joints

Ultrasonic spot welding using different welding conditions was applied to join dissimilar metals of galvanized DP590 steel and AZ31B magnesium sheets. In situ high-speed imaging, digital image correlation, and infrared thermography were utilized to quantitatively study the interfacial relative motion, surface indentation, and heat generation across the joint faying interface and the sheet/sonotrode interfaces under the welding condition of moderate welding power and short welding time. For welds made with high power and long welding time, lap shear tensile tests as well as fatigue tests were carried out. Different fracture modes were observed after the lap shear tensile tests and fatigue tests performed under different peak loads. Post-weld cross-sectional analysis with scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy revealed the variation of morphology and chemical composition at the joint interface for welds made with different welding conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Effect of Preparation Conditions of Fe@SiO2 Catalyst on Its Structure Using High-Pressure Activity Studies in a 3D-Printed SS Microreactor

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) in a 3D-printed stainless steel (SS) microchannel microreactor was investigated using Fe@SiO2 catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by two different techniques: one pot (OP) and autoclave (AC). The mesoporous structure of the two catalysts, Fe@SiO2 (OP) and Fe@SiO2 (AC), ensured a large contact area between the reactants and the catalyst. They were characterized by N2 physisorption, H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis–differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC) techniques. The AC catalyst had a clear core–shell structure and showed a much greater surface area than that prepared by the OP method. The activities of the catalysts in terms of FTS were studied in the 200–350 °C temperature range at 20-bar pressure with a H2/CO molar ratio of 2:1. The Fe@SiO2 (AC) catalyst showed higher selectivity and higher CO conversion to olefins than Fe@SiO2 (OP). Stability studies of both catalysts were carried out for 30 h at 320 °C at 20 bar with a feed gas molar ratio of 2:1. The Fe@SiO2 (AC) catalyst showed higher stability and yielded consistent CO conversion compared to the Fe@SiO2 (OP) catalyst.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗