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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 541 records · Page 30

Fabrication and Characterization of A5083-WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} Surface Composite by Friction Stir Processing

In this study, WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} ceramic composite was incorporated into Al5083 to produce a surface composite by friction stir processing (FSP), and the microstructure, hardness and wear properties of Al5083-WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} surface composite were evaluated. Optical microscopy of FSPed samples showed grain refinement in the stir zone. The addition of WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles as well as increase in FSP pass number had a considerable effect on grain refinement, and the grain size of Al5083 base metal of 36 µm reduced to 11 µm for Al5083-WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} surface composite after four passes. The SEM observation of the surface composite revealed that the WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles distributed homogenously in the matrix and by increasing the FSP passes, the initial agglomerates of mechanochemically synthesized WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} powders could be fractured. Microhardness evaluation showed a substantial improvement by adding WC-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles and increase in FSP pass number. The maximum microhardness value of 101 HV belonged to surface composite after four passes, while the microhardness of the base metal was 65 HV. Wear test results revealed enhanced tribological behavior with a similar trend of microhardness values. Scanning electron microscopy tests revealed both adhesive and abrasive wear mechanisms on the surface of the wear test specimens.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structure and electrical properties of 0.80 Na{sub 0.5} Bi{sub 0.5} TiO{sub 3}-0.16 K{sub 0.5} Bi{sub 0.5} TiO{sub 3}-0.04 BaTiO{sub 3} lead-free piezoelectric ceramics

Lead free pervoskite 0.80 Na{sub 0.5} Bi{sub 0.5} TiO{sub 3}-0.16 K{sub 0.5} Bi{sub 0.5} TiO{sub 3}-0.04 BaTiO{sub 3} (NKBBT) ceramics were fabricated via conventional solid state processing technique sintered at 1200 °C and their crystal structures and electrical properties were systematically studied. Structure of the prepared NKBBT ceramics was confirmed by Powder X-ray diffraction analysis. The dependence of dielectric constant on temperature for various frequencies (100 Hz-100 KHz) has been determined. The diffuse transition is observed in the variation of dielectric constant and it provides evidence for the relaxor characteristics. The ferroelectric response of the NKBBT ceramics with different frequency was studied. Polarisation electric field hysteresis loops revealed that the remnant polarization is 6.88 µC/cm{sup 2} and coercive electric field is 66.42 kV/cm.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Materials processing in space bibliography

Literature dealing with flight experiments utilizing a low gravity environment to elucidate and control various processes or with ground based activities that provide supporting research is listed. Included are Government reports, contractor reports, conference proceedings, and journal articles. Subdivisions of the bibliography include the five categories: crystal growth; metals, alloys, and composites, fluids and transport; glasses and ceramics; and Ultrahigh Vacuum and Containerless Processing Technologies, in addition to a list of patents and a compilation of anonymously authored collections and reports and a cross reference index.

Pentecost, E.↗

Creating and Preserving Nanoparticles during Co-Sintering of Solid Oxide Electrodes and Its Impact on Electrocatalytic Activity

A novel processing method that creates and preserves ceramic nanoparticles in solid oxide electrodes during co-sintering at traditional sintering temperatures is introduced. Specifically, carbon templated samarium-doped ceria nanoparticles (nSDC) were successfully integrated with commercial lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) and commercial SDC powders, producing LSCF-SDC-nSDC cathodes upon processing. The effect of nSDC concentration on cathode electrocatalytic activity was investigated at low operational temperatures, 600 °C–700 °C, with symmetrical cells. Low nSDC loadings, ≤5 wt% nSDC, significantly decreased cell polarization resistance whereas higher loadings increased it. The best electrochemical performance was achieved with 5 wt% nSDC, lowering the polarization resistance by 41% at 600 °C. Fuel cell tests demonstrate that adding 5 wt% nSDC increased the maximum fuel cell power density by 38%. Electrochemical impedance spectra showed substantial improvements in both fuel cell polarization resistance and ohmic resistance, indicating that nSDC increased the electrocatalytically active area of the cathode. This work demonstrates a simple, novel method for effectively increasing electrocatalytic activity of solid oxide electrodes at low operational temperatures.

Muhoza, Sixbert P. (ORCID:0000000299864241)↗

Advancements in Binder Systems for Solid Freeform Fabrication

Paper will present recent developments in advanced material binder systems for solid freeform fabrication (SFF) technologies. The advantage of SFF is the capability to custom fabricate complex geometries directly from computer aided design data in layer- by-layer fashion, eliminated the need for traditional fixturing and tooling. Binders allow for the low temperature processing of 'green' structural materials, either metal, ceramic or composite, in traditional rapid prototyping machines. The greatest obstacle comes when green parts must then go through a sintering or burnout process to remove the binders and fully densify the parent material, without damaging or distorting the original part geometry. Critical issues and up-to-date assessments will be delivered on various material systems.

Cooper, Ken↗

Advances in Glass Formulations for Hanford High-Aluminum, High-Iron and Enhanced Sulphate Management in HLW Streams - 13000

The current estimates and glass formulation efforts have been conservative in terms of achievable waste loadings. These formulations have been specified to ensure that the glasses are homogenous, contain essentially no crystalline phases, are processable in joule-heated, ceramic-lined melters and meet Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) Contract terms. The WTP's overall mission will require the immobilization of tank waste compositions that are dominated by mixtures of aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), bismuth (Bi), iron (Fe), phosphorous (P), zirconium (Zr), and sulphur (S) compounds as waste-limiting components. Glass compositions for these waste mixtures have been developed based upon previous experience and current glass property models. Recently, DOE has initiated a testing program to develop and characterize HLW glasses with higher waste loadings and higher throughput efficiencies. Results of this work have demonstrated the feasibility of increases in waste loading from about 25 wt% to 33-50 wt% (based on oxide loading) in the glass depending on the waste stream. In view of the importance of aluminum limited waste streams at Hanford (and also Savannah River), the ability to achieve high waste loadings without adversely impacting melt rates has the potential for enormous cost savings from reductions in canister count and the potential for schedule acceleration. Consequently, the potential return on the investment made in the development of these enhancements is extremely favorable. Glass composition development for one of the latest Hanford HLW projected compositions with sulphate concentrations high enough to limit waste loading have been successfully tested and show tolerance for previously unreported tolerance for sulphate. Though a significant increase in waste loading for high-iron wastes has been achieved, the magnitude of the increase is not as substantial as those achieved for high-aluminum, high-chromium, high-bismuth or sulphur. Waste processing rate increases for high-iron streams as a combined effect of higher waste loadings and higher melt rates resulting from new formulations have been achieved. (author)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Olivine, dolomite and ceramic filters in one vessel to produce clean gas from biomass

Highlights: • Syngas free of particles and with very low amount of tar is produced from biomass gasification. • Combination is tested of primary catalyst in the gasifier fluidized bed with catalytic ceramic candles in its freeboard. • Remarkable process intensification and thermal integration is obtained. • The adoption of catalytic filter candles doesn’t increase the required standard filtration surface in practical applications. - Abstract: Heavy organic compounds produced during almond shells gasification in a steam and/or air atmosphere, usually called tar, are drastically reduced in the product gas by using simultaneously in one vessel a ceramic filter placed in the freeboard and a mixture of olivine and dolomite particles in the fluidized bed of the gasifier. The content of tar in the product gas during a reference gasification test with air, in presence of fresh olivine particles only, was 8600 mg/Nm{sup 3} of dry gas. By gasifying biomass with steam at the same temperature level of 820 °C in a bed of olivine and dolomite (20% by weight), and in the presence of a catalytic ceramic filter inserted in the freeboard of the fluidized bed gasifier, the level of tar was brought down to 57 mg/Nm{sup 3} of dry producct gas, with a decrease of more than two orders of magnitude.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

PCEMCAN - Probabilistic Ceramic Matrix Composites Analyzer: User's Guide, Version 1.0

PCEMCAN (Probabalistic CEramic Matrix Composites ANalyzer) is an integrated computer code developed at NASA Lewis Research Center that simulates uncertainties associated with the constituent properties, manufacturing process, and geometric parameters of fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites and quantifies their random thermomechanical behavior. The PCEMCAN code can perform the deterministic as well as probabilistic analyses to predict thermomechanical properties. This User's guide details the step-by-step procedure to create input file and update/modify the material properties database required to run PCEMCAN computer code. An overview of the geometric conventions, micromechanical unit cell, nonlinear constitutive relationship and probabilistic simulation methodology is also provided in the manual. Fast probability integration as well as Monte-Carlo simulation methods are available for the uncertainty simulation. Various options available in the code to simulate probabilistic material properties and quantify sensitivity of the primitive random variables have been described. The description of deterministic as well as probabilistic results have been described using demonstration problems. For detailed theoretical description of deterministic and probabilistic analyses, the user is referred to the companion documents "Computational Simulation of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composite Behavior," NASA TP-3602, 1996 and "Probabilistic Micromechanics and Macromechanics for Ceramic Matrix Composites", NASA TM 4766, June 1997.

Shah, Ashwin R.↗

Recent Advances in the Development of Thick-Section Melt-Infiltrated C/SiC Composites

Using a pressureless melt infiltration and in situ reaction process to form the silicon carbide (SiC) matrix, Ultramet has been developing a means to rapidly fabricate ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) targeting thicker sections. The process also employs a unique route for the application of oxide fiber interface coatings designed to protect the fiber and impart fiber-matrix debond. Working toward a 12 inch diameter, 2.5 inch thick demonstrator component, the effect of various processing parameters on room temperature flexure strength is being studied with plans for more extensive elevated temperature mechanical strength evaluation to follow this initial optimization process.

Babcock, Jason R.↗

Lunar resources and their utilization

The paper reviews the physical and chemical characteristics of lunar surface materials noting the thickness of the regolith, grain size distribution, regolith petrography, and the chemical composition of the regolith. A comprehensive design of a processing system for the production of structural metals, oxygen, silicon, glass, and ceramic materials is presented. Specifications regarding the location of the processing plant, and its mass, volume, and power requirements are reviewed.

Phinney, W. C.↗

Verification of the Skorohod-Olevsky Viscous Sintering (SOVS) Model

Sintering refers to a manufacturing process through which mechanically pressed bodies of ceramic (and sometimes metal) powders are heated to drive densification thereby removing the inherit porosity of green bodies. As the body densifies through the sintering process, the ensuing material flow leads to macroscopic deformations of the specimen and as such the final configuration differs form the initial. Therefore, as with any manufacturing step, there is substantial interest in understanding and being able to model the sintering process to predict deformation and residual stress. Efforts in this regard have been pursued for face seals, gear wheels, and consumer products like wash-basins. To understand the sintering process, a variety of modeling approaches have been pursued at different scales.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The materials processing research base of the Materials Processing Center

The goals and activities of the center are discussed. The center activities encompass all engineering materials including metals, ceramics, polymers, electronic materials, composites, superconductors, and thin films. Processes include crystallization, solidification, nucleation, and polymer synthesis.

Flemings, M. C.↗

System and method of forming nanostructured ferritic alloy

A system for mechanical milling and a method of mechanical milling are disclosed. The system includes a container, a feedstock, and milling media. The container encloses a processing volume. The feedstock and the milling media are disposed in the processing volume of the container. The feedstock includes metal or alloy powder and a ceramic compound. The feedstock is mechanically milled in the processing volume using metallic milling media that includes a surface portion that has a carbon content less than about 0.4 weight percent.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Micromachined ceramic-based chipless LC resonator for high-temperature wireless sensing applications in harsh environments

The primary objective of this work was the fabrication and testing of a wireless LC resonator based on micro-patterned electroceramic materials for the monitoring of high-temperature systems. The twodimensional planar LC resonator sensors were designed and simulated using ANSYS Maxwell software, and these sensors were then fabricated from electrically conductive La 2 NiO 4 /Al 2 O 3 particulate inks. Initially, the phases of La 2 NiO 4 /Al 2 O 3 composite were evaluated by XRD. The patterning and deposition of the ink were completed using a novel micro-casting process onto Al 2 O 3 ceramic substrates, and the final pattern was bonded onto the substrate at 1200 °C for 2 h. The features and the reliability were analyzed by SEM microscopy. The frequency shift with respect to temperature was measured, which is directly related to changes in the sensor’s dielectric permittivity and pattern dimensions. The sensors were characterized at 500 °C–1000 °C in an ambient atmosphere with an RF signal ranging from 10–80 MHz at 175 kHz·s –1 sweep rate. The sensors showed a sensitivity of ~350 kHz °C –1 from 500 °C–1000 °C. Here, a new robust and adaptive signal processing approach was introduced to increase the degree of freedom for analyzing wireless sensors.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Refractory Ceramic Foams for Novel Applications

Workers at NASA Ames Research center are endeavoring to develop durable, oxidation-resistant, foam thermal protection systems (TPSs) that would be suitable for covering large exterior spacecraft surfaces, would have low to moderate densities, and would have temperature capabilities comparable to those of carbon-based TPSs [reusable at 3,000 F (.1,650 C)] with application of suitable coatings. These foams may also be useful for repairing TPSs while in orbit. Moreover, on Earth as well as in outer space, these foams might be useful as catalyst supports and filters. Preceramic polymers are obvious candidates for use in making the foams in question. The use of these polymers offers advantages over processing routes followed in making conventional ceramics. Among the advantages are the ability to plastically form parts, the ability to form pyrolized ceramic materials at lower temperatures, and the ability to form high-purity microstructures having properties that can be tailored to satisfy requirements. Heretofore, preceramic polymers have been used mostly in the production of such low-dimensional products as fibers because the loss of volatiles during pyrolysis of the polymers leads to porosity and large shrinkage (in excess of 30 percent). In addition, efforts to form bulk structures from preceramic polymers have resulted in severe cracking during pyrolysis. However, because the foams in question would consist of networks of thin struts (in contradistinction to nonporous dense solids), these foams are ideal candidates for processing along a preceramic-polymer route.

Stackpoole, M.↗

Laser ablation of ceramic Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} at 193 nm and 248 nm: The importance of single-photon ionization processes

The aim of this work is to demonstrate that single-photon photoionization processes make a significant difference in the expansion and temperature of the plasma produced by laser ablation of ceramic Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} in vacuum as well as to show their consequences in the kinetic energy distribution of the species that eventually will impact on the film properties produced by pulsed laser deposition. This work compares results obtained by mass spectrometry and optical spectroscopy on the composition and features of the plasma produced by laser ablation at 193 nm and 248 nm, i.e., photon energies that are, respectively, above and below the ionization potential of Al, and for fluences between threshold for visible plasma and up to Almost-Equal-To 2 times higher. The results show that the ionic composition and excitation of the plasma as well as the ion kinetic energies are much higher at 193 nm than at 248 nm and, in the latter case, the population of excited ions is even negligible. The comparison of Maxwell-Boltzmann temperature, electron temperatures, and densities of the plasmas produced with the two laser wavelengths suggests that the expansion of the plasma produced at 248 nm is dominated by a single population. Instead, the one produced at 193 nm is consistent with the existence of two populations of cold and hot species, the latter associated to Al{sup +} ions that travel at the forefront and produced by single photon ionization as well as Al neutrals and double ionized ions produced by electron-ion impact. The results also show that the most energetic Al neutrals in the plasma produced at the two studied wavelengths are in the ground state.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Nanoparticle Impact 2023 Report

Micro-cold spray (MCS) is a thermal spray process that can be used to apply thick ceramic films (1-100 μm) using kinetic energy to consolidate aerosolized powders into a dense film. While this process is compatible with many substrates due to the low working temperatures, the fundamental mechanisms that enable MCS and shape the operational window are poorly understood.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗