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Results for “HYDROFLUORIC ACID”

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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Finite element modeling of electropolishing of radio frequency dipole Nb crab cavity in hydrofluoric-sulfuric acid electrolyte

The superior performance of niobium superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities is achieved through meticulous surface treatment, notably via chemical electropolishing, ensuring exceptionally smooth surfaces. While this technique has been extensively employed for cylindrically symmetric structures, addressing more intricate geometries poses significant challenges in achieving uniform polishing and controlled material removal, especially when moving away from retractable cathodes. This presents a multifaceted electrochemical, thermal, and fluid dynamics conundrum. A prime example is the 197 MHz radio frequency dipole (RFD) crabbing cavity proposed for the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) project, exemplifying such complex structures. Our groundbreaking work integrates the localized oxide thickness variation, considering its impact on current distribution and Joule heating, within the framework of multi-physics modeling using the COMSOL® simulation suite. This approach was applied to a comprehensive model of the RFD cavity, allowing us to investigate optimal external cooling water flow conditions necessary for achieving desirable outcomes. In conclusion, this illustrates the increasing utility of such multi-physics codes to greatly aid in designing solutions to challenging processing requirements for increasingly complex accelerator cavities.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2022

Finite Element Modeling of Electrochemical Polishing of Niobium in Hydrofluoric-Sulfuric Acid Electrolyte

Niobium (Nb) used in superconducting radio-frequency cavities requires smooth surface to achieve optimal performance. In this work, a finite element model that coupled electrochemistry, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics was developed to investigate the electrochemical polishing mechanisms of Nb, using experimentally measured polarization results of coupon samples as validations. The current and potential distribution, oxide growth kinetics of Nb in a complex cavity geometry was investigated as a function of temperature and coolant flow. A low temperature coolant with intermediate flow rate was found to reduce surface current and ensure oxide uniformity. These results could shed light on the design of future particle accelerators.

SRF accelerator cavity↗
NASA NTRS1990

Incorporation of stratospheric acids into water ice

Hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids are absorbed within the water ice lattice at mole fractions maximizing below 0.00001 and 0.0001 in a variety of solid impurity studies. The absorption mechanism may be substitutional or interstitial, leading in either case to a weak permeation of stratospheric ices by the acids at equilibrium. Impurities could also inhabit grain boundaries, and the acid content of atmospheric ice crystals will then depend on details of their surface and internal microstructures. Limited evidence indicates similar properties for the absorption of HNO3. Water ice lattices saturated with acid cannot be a significant local reservoir for HCl in the polar stratosphere.

Elliott, Scott↗
DOE OSTI2017

Rapid method to determine 226Ra in steel samples

The rapid measurement of 226 Ra in steel samples is very important in the event of a radiological emergency. 226 Ra (T 1/2 = 1600 y) is a natural radionuclide present in the environment and a highly toxic alpha-emitter. Due to its long life and tendency to concentrate in bones, 226 Ra ingestion or inhalation can lead to significant committed dose to individuals. A new method for the determination of 226 Ra in steel samples has been developed at the Savannah River Environmental Laboratory. The new method employs a rugged acid digestion method that includes hydrofluoric acid, followed by a single precipitation step to rapidly preconcentrate the radium and remove most of the dissolved steel sample matrix. Radium is then separated using a combination of cation exchange and extraction chromatography, and 226 Ra is measured by alpha spectrometry. This approach has a sample preparation time of ~ 8 h for steel samples, has a very high tracer yield (> 88%), and removes interferences effectively. A 133 Ba yield tracer is used so that samples can be counted immediately following the separation method, avoiding lengthy ingrowth times that are required in other methods.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
NASA NTRS1973

Temperature compensated sleeve type mirror mount

The primary mirror of a large (26-inch diameter aperture) solar telescope was made of glass ceramic and designed with an integral hub on the back of the center of the mirror. This permits heat from the mirror to radiate off its back to a nearby cold plate. To permit mounting without high stresses, the hub was ground down to a smooth cylindrical surface 3.5 inch in diameter. The ground surface was then acid-etched to remove 0.007 inch (on the diameter) by immersion for five minutes in a mixture of four parts 92% sulfuric acid and three parts 50% hydrofluoric acid. The acid etching removes microcracks from the ground Cer-Vit surface. An Invar sleeve was fabricated to fit over the hub with about 0.010 inch radial (0.020 inch diametral) clearance.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2016

Uranium Casting Pin Dissolution for Multi-element and Si Analysis

The purpose of this special instruction is to establish a standard method for the dissolution of uranium casting materials from FCF or HFEF. The Spent Fuel Treatment program requires the analysis of uranium casting pins in order to determine the level of impurities. The samples are dissolved in a laboratory hood for ICP-MS and ICP-OES analyses. The dissolution of the uranium will require the use of nitric and/or hydrochloric acid, with a trace amount of hydrofluoric acid as a dissolution catalyst. Two dissolution methods are provided to allow for the choice of the final dissolver matrix. A process blank should be performed along with samples.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1970

Simple bonding technique for high-temperature ceramic coatings

Coatings, consisting of zirconia powder bonded with orthophosphoric acid and a small amount of hydrofluoric acid, are hard, strong, and refractory, resist thermal shock, and provide good thermal protection. After the aqueous coating is applied to a metallic surface, only a 600 deg F cure is required before service.

Accountius, O. E.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Using Sr Resin with mixed acid matrices

Here, the quantification of radioactive material dispersed following the release of 90Sr, whether accidental or intentional, would be of high importance. Depending on the circumstances, it is possible that the contaminated materials would need to be completely digested prior to quantification. Many sample matrices require a mixture of different acids be employed to achieve total dissolution. Unfortunately, one the most common approaches for the separation of strontium, extraction chromatography with Sr Resin, has only been fully characterized in pure mineral acid solutions. This work shows that Sr Resin can be used effectively with high concentration mixtures of nitric and hydrochloric acids in the presence or absence of hydrofluoric acid, thereby potentially negating the need for conversion to a pure mineral acid matrix.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Galvanic corrosion of structural non-stoichiometric silicon nitride thin films and its implications on reliability of microelectromechanical devices

This paper describes a reliability assessment and failure analysis of a poly-Si/non-stoichiometric silicon nitride thin film composite structure. A set of poly-Si/SiN{sub x} thin film structures were exposed to a mixed flowing gas (MFG) environment, which simulates outdoor environments, for 90 days, and an elevated temperature and humidity (85 °C/95% R.H.) test for 140 days. The mechanical integrity of the thin films was observed to degrade during exposure to the chemically reactive atmospheres. The degree of degradation was analyzed with nanoindentation tests. Statistical analysis of the forces required to initiate a fracture in the thin films indicated degradation due to the exposure to the MFG environment in the SiN{sub x} part of the films. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a porous-like reaction layer on top of SiN{sub x}. The morphology of the reaction layer resembled that of galvanically corroded poly-Si. Transmission electron microscopy further clarified the microstructure of the reaction layer which had a complex multi-phase structure extending to depths of ∼100 nm. Furthermore, the layer was oxidized two times deeper in a 90 days MFG-tested sample compared to an untested reference. The formation of the layer is proposed to be caused by galvanic corrosion of elemental silicon in non-stoichiometric silicon nitride during hydrofluoric acid etching. The degradation is proposed to be due uncontrolled oxidation of the films during the stress tests.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Realization of single-termination SrTiO{sub 3} (100) surfaces by a microwave-induced hydrothermal process

A microwave-induced hydrothermal etching of SrTiO{sub 3} (100) single crystal surfaces in deionized water and subsequent annealing in oxygen atmosphere results in single-terminated and atomically flat terraces for pure and niobium-doped substrates as confirmed through one unit-cell step height and uniform phase by atomic force microscopy. This process that requires 3 min of moderate microwave radiation completely avoids the use of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and related point defects due to fluorine in the crystal surface. The advantages of a safe, inexpensive, and environmentally neutral process hold promise to replace the existing standard protocol for substrate preparation based on buffered HF.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Fabrication of microcapillaries in fused silica using axicon focusing of femtosecond laser radiation and chemical etchingion/ms

Fabrication of microcapillaries with a diameter of 50 - 80 {mu}m and a length up to 2.5 mm in fused silica by axicon focusing of femtosecond laser radiation and subsequent chemical etching in a 8 % hydrofluoric acid solution is demonstrated. The etching rate is {approx}6 {mu}m min{sup -1}. It is shown that the microcapillaries have optical waveguiding properties, which testifies to the optical quality of the walls of obtained structures. (extreme light fields and their applications)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Synthesis of Titanium Oxycarbide from Titanium Slag by Methane-Containing Gas

In this study, reaction steps of a process for synthesis of titanium oxycarbide from titanium slag were demonstrated. This process involves the reduction of titanium slag by a methane-hydrogen-argon mixture at 1473 K (1200 °C) and the leaching of the reduced products by hydrofluoric acid near room temperature to remove the main impurity (Fe{sub 3}Si). Some iron was formed by disproportionation of the main M{sub 3}O{sub 5} phase before gaseous reduction started. Upon reduction, more iron formed first, followed by reduction of titanium dioxide to suboxides and eventually oxycarbide.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Low-cost electrochemical treatment of indium tin oxide anodes for high-efficiency organic light-emitting diodes

We demonstrate a simple low-cost approach as an alternative to conventional O{sub 2} plasma treatment to modify the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) anodes for use in organic light-emitting diodes. ITO is functionalized with F{sup −} ions by electrochemical treatment in dilute hydrofluoric acid. An electrode with a work function of 5.2 eV is achieved following fluorination. Using this electrode, a maximum external quantum efficiency of 26.0% (91 cd/A, 102 lm/W) is obtained, which is 12% higher than that of a device using the O{sub 2} plasma-treated ITO. Fluorination also increases the transparency in the near-infrared region.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Electrochemical Sensor Development for Fluoride Molten Salt Redox Control

Fluoride molten salts are proposed for many uses in the near future such as coolant for nuclear fission and fusion applications. This medium is advantageous due to superior heat transfer properties and chemical stability. These advantages result in better safety characteristics, increased output, and lower costs. These molten salts are sensitive to impurities, especially water and oxygen, however. These impurities can react with the fluorides to form hydrofluoric acid which will corrode the containing materials through the following mechanism: 2 HF + M → H{sub 2} + MF{sub 2}. Due to this sensitivity it is necessary to monitor the condition of the molten salt in order to prevent corrosion utilizing redox control. This study investigates the requirements and design of an electrochemical sensor which can perform this real time monitoring of the molten salt's redox potential.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Reducing disorder in graphene nanoribbons by chemical edge modification

We present electronic transport measurements on etched graphene nanoribbons on silicon dioxide before and after a short hydrofluoric acid (HF) treatment. We report on changes in the transport properties, in particular, in terms of a decreasing transport gap and a reduced doping level after HF dipping. Interestingly, the effective energy gap is nearly unaffected by the HF treatment. Additional measurements on a graphene nanoribbon with lateral graphene gates support strong indications that the HF significantly modifies the edges of the investigated nanoribbons leading to a significantly reduced disorder potential in these graphene nanostructures.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

A facile in-situ etching route to hollow C@SnO2 nanocomposites and their gas-sensing properties

Highlights: • Hollow C@SnO{sub 2} nanostructure has been designed via a facile in-situ etching technique.. • The C@SnO{sub 2} products possess a high surface are and a hollow carbon core. • The growth of SnO{sub 2} nanosheets and the removal of silica template can be synchronously performed. • The C@SnO{sub 2} products manifest highly sensitive and selective to n-butanol as gas-sensing sensor. - Abstract: A novel hollow carbon@SnO{sub 2} nanocomposite has been developed via a high cost-effective and facile in-situ etching technique. The as-prepared C@SnO{sub 2} product has a high surface area of about 115 m{sup 2} g{sup −1} and a hollow carbon core, where a lot of SnO{sub 2} nanosheets grow onto the carbon shell. Particularly, the silica core as the sacrificial template can be fully removed by hydrofluoric acid (HF) byproduct during the reaction process. Moreover, the deposition of SnO{sub 2} sheets and the removal of the silica template can be synchronously performed by a simple one-step process. When applied as the gas-sensing material, the C@SnO{sub 2} product manifests highly sensitive and selective to n-butanol. The large surface area, hollow nanostructure and the perfect combination of SnO{sub 2} nanosheets and carbon layer contribute to the enhanced gas-sensing performances. The method described in our work can also be employed to design other hollow metal oxides@carbon hybrids for energy storage and catalysis.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Lessons Learned—Fluoride Exposure and Response

Laboratory research can expose workers to a wide variety of chemical hazards. Researchers must not only take personal responsibility for their safety but also inevitably rely on coworkers to also work safely. The foundations for protocols, requirements, and behaviors come from our history and lessons learned from others. For that reason, here, a recent incident is examined in which a researcher suffered hydrofluoric acid (HF) burns while working with an inorganic digestion mixture of aqueous HF (8%) and nitric acid (HNO 3 , 58%). HF education is critical for workers because delays in treatment, improper treatment, and delay of symptoms are all factors in unfavorable outcomes in case reports. Furthermore, while the potential severity of the incident was elevated due to bypassed engineered controls and lack of proper personal protective equipment, only minor injuries were sustained. We discuss the results of a causal analysis of the incident that revealed areas of improvement in protocols, personal protective equipment, and emergency response that could help prevent similar accidents from occurring. We also present simple improvements that anyone can implement to reduce the potential consequences of an accident, based upon our lessons learned.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

The correlation of blue shift of photoluminescence and morphology of silicon nanoporous

Porous silicon with diameters ranging from 6.41 to 7.12 nm were synthesized via electrochemical etching by varied anodization current density in ethanoic solutions containing aqueous hydrofluoric acid up to 65 mA/cm{sup 2}.The luminescence properties of the nanoporous at room temperature were analyzed via photoluminescence spectroscopy. Photoluminescence PL spectra exhibit a broad emission band in the range of 360-700 nm photon energy. The PL spectrum has a blue shift in varied anodization current density; the blue shift incremented as the existing of anodization although the intensity decreased. The current blue shift is owning to alteration of silicon nanocrystal structure at the superficies. The superficial morphology of the PS layers consists of unified and orderly distribution of nanocrystalline Si structures, have high porosity around (93.75%) and high thickness 39.52 µm.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗