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At least 577 records · Page 32
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2019

Fabrication of Phononic-Isolated Kinetic Inductance Detectors

Kinetic inductance detectors (KID) have received increased interest due to their relative ease of fabrication, low noise, and scalability to large format arrays required by next generation of astronomical telescopes. The development of KIDs has progressed rapidly, with very low noise equivalent power demonstrated by several groups and KIDs arrays implemented in several ground-based and air-borne instruments. In this paper, we describe a new fabrication process which consists of a membrane isolated KID incorporating a phononic bandgap structure tuned to block recombination phonons from escaping to the thermal bath. This architecture is designed to increase the quasi-particle lifetime and results in increased responsivity to signal photons and lower noise. These devices have been fabricated as lumped-element resonators with hafnium inductors and Nb capacitors on low stress silicon nitride and silicon-on-insulator membranes. We discuss the fabrication process, which uses a combination of sub-micron laser based direct write lithography and nanoscale electron beam lithography.

Denis, Kevin L.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Effect of Pressure on the Activity Coefficients of Au and Other Siderophile Elements in Liquid Fe-Si Alloys

Light elements can alloy into the iron cores of terrestrial planetary bodies. It is estimated that the Earth’s core contains ~10% of a light element, most likely a combination of S, C, Si, and O with Si probably being the most abundant. Si dissolved into Fe metal liquids can have a significant influence on the activity coefficients of siderophile elements, and thus the partitioning behavior of those elements between the core and mantle. Many of these elements have been investigated extensively at ambient pressure, and studies up to 1 GPa are becoming more common, but few have been studied at pressures above this. The formation of the Earth’s core has been estimated to have formed at pressures between 40-60 GPa, so investigating the effect pressure has on Si’s influence on siderophile element partitioning is important for modeling core formation in the Earth and smaller planets. Pressure is well known to influence volumetric properties of metallic and silicate liquids, and oxygen fugacity (e.g., [10,11]), but less is known about its effect on activity coefficients (e.g., [12]). Some activity coefficients depend strongly upon the Si content of Fe liquids, and the concentration of siderophile elements such as P, Sb, and As in the terrestrial mantle is easily influenced by dissolved Si in the core. Thus, isolating the effect of pressure on activity coefficients in general is critical in quantitative analysis of core formation models. In this work, we investigate the effect variable Si content has on the partitioning of Au between Fe metal and silicate melt at 10 GPa and 2373 K, with the intention of comparing the behavior to that already investigated at lower pressures. In addition, P, V, Mn, Ga, Zn, Cd, Sn, W, Pb, and Nb were also measured and could thus be included in the assessment of potential pressure effects.

Righter, K.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Nanomechanical Characterization of Additive Manufactured GRCop-42 Alloy Developed by Directed Energy Deposition Methods

Propulsion applications such as combustion chambers and nozzles for liquid rocket engines require the use of unique materials with superior mechanical and thermal properties. GRCop-42(Cu-4 wt.% Cr-2 wt.% Nb) is one such candidate material developed by NASA and is now being manufactured using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. AM offers a unique processing environment different from traditional metal fabrication processes. This study characterized the mechanical and structural properties of as-deposited and heat-treated GRCop-42manufactured with Blown Powder Directed Energy Deposition (BPD)based on preliminary testing. The materials were characterized using several techniques including surface profiling by laser microscopy, mechanical stiffness by instrumented indentation, crystal structure, residual stress measurements using XRD and residual XRD, and chemical composition and microstructural evaluation using SEM with EBSD. The results of the study are compared using the BPD techniques for samples in the as-deposited and heat-treated conditions.

GRCop-42↗
NASA NTRS2021

Nanostructure and compositional segregation of soft magnetic FeNi-based nanocomposites with multiple nanocrystalline phases

Soft magnetic metal amorphous nanocomposite alloys are produced through rapid solidification and thermal annealing yielding nanocrystals embedded within an amorphous precursor. Similar free energies in Co-rich and FeNi-based alloy systems result in multiple nanocrystalline phases being formed during devitrification. Studies of multi-phase crystallization processes have been reported for Co-rich alloys but relatively few have investigated FeNi-based systems. A detailed characterization of compositional partitioning and microstructure of an optimally annealed FeNi-based MANC (Fe70Ni30)80Nb4Si2B14 alloy is presented through complementary high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atom probe tomography (APT). HRTEM demonstrates orientation relationships between FCC and BCC nanocrystals, suggesting heterogeneous nucleation of nanocrystals in the amorphous matrix or a cooperative mechanism of nucleation between BCC and FCC nanocrystallites. APT results show evidence for (i) the segregation of Fe and Ni between nanocrystals of different phases, (ii) B partitioning to the amorphous phase, and (iii) an Nb-enriched shell surrounding nanocrystals.

soft magnetic materials↗
NASA NTRS1993

Component Selection, Accelerated Testing, and Improved Modeling of AMTEC Systems for Space Power

Alkali metal thermal to electric converter (AMTEC) designs for space power are numerous, but the selection of materials for construction of long-lived AMTEC devices has been limited to electrodes, current collectors, and the solid electrolyte. AMTEC devices with lifetimes greater than 5 years require careful selection and life testing of all hot-side components. The likely selection of a remote condensed design for initial flight test and probable use with a radioisotope heat source in AMTEC powered planet probes requires the device to be constructed to tolerate operating T greater than 1150K, as well as exposure to Na (g) , and Na (liq) on the high pressure side. The temperatures involved make the characterization of high strength and chemical resistance to Na containing Na 2 O critical. Selection among materials which can be worked should not be driven by ease of fabricablity, as high temperature stability is the critical issue. These concepts drive the selecton of Mo alloys for Na (liq) containment in AMTEC cells for T to 1150K operation, as they are significantly stronger than comparable Nb or Ta alloys, are less soluble in Na (liq) containing dissolved Na 2 O, are workable compared with W alloys (which might be used for certain components), and are ductile at the T greater than 500K of proposed AMTEC modules in space applications.

AMTEC↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Additive Manufacturing (AM) for Propulsion Component and System Applications

NASA MSFC is developing several areas of additive manufacturing (AM) for propulsion component and system applications. These developments include new AM process and material development, large-scale AM pathfinder component fabrication and hot-fire testing, AM-centric design methodology, modeling and simulation, post-processing advancements, and new design applications of AM in aerospace. Some specific areas NASA has focused is the development and commercial infusion of AM supply chain for materials such as copper-alloy GRCop (Cu-Cr-Nb), Hydrogen-resistant alloys (NASA HR-1, JBK-75), refractory-based alloys (C-103, W, Mo, new formulations), and bimetallic and multi-metallic AM processes. Additional efforts have been focused on large scale AM demonstrating complex thin-wall structures up to 60” diameter using directed energy deposition. Material characterization, properties and component hot-fire testing has been completed using many of these newly developed AM alloys/processes. NASA has also focused on improvements to post-processing including powder removal, surface enhancements, and support removal to further realize cost and schedule benefits to the overall supply chain. These developments are part of the NASA Rapid Analysis and Manufacturing Propulsion Technology (RAMPT), Low Cost Upper Stage Propulsion (LCUSP) and Long Life Additive Manufacturing (LLAMA) projects, in addition to internal IRAD, and external collaborations.

Additive Manufacturing↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Mantle Source Mineralogy Inferred from Incompatible Element Ratios in Shergottites

The mineralogy of the martian mantle is a poorly known but vital compositional parameter. In the absence of samples of martian mantle peridotites, the mineralogy has been inferred from bulk composition constrained by a mix of cosmochemical and martian meteoritic constraints. Such a mineralogy reflects the primordial mantle composition, but mantle source regions that differentiated from a magma ocean are not likely to have the same mineralogy as bulk silicate Mars. An alternative approach is to infer source mineralogy of the martian mantle from the analysis of incompatible elements in shergottites. In a recent study, we showed that the general compatibility order of trace lithophile elements in martian mantle is similar to that of MORB mantle, with some exceptions. Compared to MORB mantle, in martian mantle: (1) highly incompatible elements (Th, Nb, Ta and U) are less incompatible relative to La; (2) K is significantly more compatible with respect to other elements; and (3) the HREEs are more compatible. In this study, we calculated effective partition coefficients of trace elements directly from martian igneous meteorites and used this data to infer the source mineralogy of the martian mantle.

Mars↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing a New Generation of Integrated Micro-Spec Far Infrared Spectrometers for the EXperiment for Cryogenic Large-Aperture Intensity Mapping (EXCLAIM)

The current state of far-infrared astronomy drives the need to develop compact, sensitive spectrometers for future space and ground-based instruments. Here we present details of the µ-Spec spectrometers currently in development for the far-infrared balloon mission EXCLAIM. The spectrometers are designed to cover the 555 – 714 µm range with a resolution of R = λ/∆λ = 512 at the 638 µm band center. The spectrometer design incorporates a Rowland grating spectrometer implemented in a parallel plate waveguide on a low-loss single-crystal Si chip, employing Nb microstrip planar transmission lines and thin-film Al kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs). The EXCLAIM µ-Spec design is an advancement upon a successful R = 64 µ-Spec prototype, and can be considered a sub-mm superconducting photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that combines spectral dispersion and detection. The design operates in a single M=2 grating order, allowing one spectrometer to cover the full EXCLAIM band without requiring a multi-order focal plane. The EXCLAIM instrument will fly six spectrometers, which are fabricated on a single 150 mm diameter Si wafer. Fabrication involves a flip-wafer-bonding process with patterning of the superconducting layers on both sides of the Si dielectric. The spectrometers are designed to operate at 100 mK, and will include 355 Al KID detectors targeting a goal of NEP ∼8 × 10−19 W/√( Hz). We summarize the design, fabrication, and ongoing development of these µ-Spec spectrometers for EXCLAIM.

Carolyn G. Volpert↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

MLtool++ package for machine learning and its applications to materials data

We are developing Mltool++ package of software programs for machine learning (ML). Given the MLtool Python code, we create a faster C++ code with the potential for parallelization. We have extracted materials data from the literature. One dataset contains melting temperatures of stoichiometric 1:1 metallic compounds XZ, composed by elements X={Al, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W} and Z={Co, Ni, Cu, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, Au}, and another contains solid-solid symmetry-breaking phase transition temperatures. We studied dependences of temperatures on composition, found several correlations, and parametrized them by analytical functions. Mltool++ package is generic and applicable to any tabulated numeric data.

Pierce M. Pettit↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Modified Rosenthal Solution for Prediction of In Situ Alloyed GRCop-42 Melt Pool

Literature suggests that the energy needed to in-situ alloy material via additive manufacturing is higher per unit volume than their pre-alloyed counterparts, often despite the in-situ formation of thermodynamically favorable phases. This work, via experiments on in-situ alloyed GRCop-42 (Cu-4 at% Cr-2 at% Nb), will explore the energy needs of an elemental powder blend during in-situ alloying via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Empirically derived models will explore the influence of elemental thermophysical properties, net energy of in-situ reactions, and powder characteristics on the resulting LPBF energy demands, weld pool size and shape, and porosity evolution. Additionally, the influence of energy input during printing on the in-situ reaction to form Cr2Nb will be explored. Evolution of Cr2Nb dispersoid and copper grain shape, size, and texture can be related to the temperature reached, cooling rate, and time-as-melt during in-situ alloying via LPBF.

David Scannapieco↗
NASA NTRS2021

An evolutionary system of mineralogy, Part V: Aqueous and thermal alteration of planetesimals (~4565 to 4550 Ma)

Part V of the evolutionary system of mineralogy explores phases produced by aqueous alteration, metasomatism, and/or thermal metamorphism—relicts of ancient processes that affected virtually all asteroids and that are preserved in the secondary mineralogy of meteorites. We catalog 166 historical natural kinds of minerals that formed by alteration in the parent bodies of chondritic and non-chondritic meteorites within the first 20 Ma of the solar system. Secondary processes saw a dramatic increase in the chemical and structural diversity of minerals. These phases incorporate 41 different mineral-forming elements, including the earliest known appearances of species with essential Co, Ge, As, Nb, Ag, Sn, Te, Au, Hg, Pb, and Bi. Among the varied secondary meteorite minerals are the earliest known examples of halides, arsenides, tellurides, sulfates, carbonates, hydroxides, and a wide range of phyllosilicates.

Robert M. Hazen↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Effect of Pressure on Trace Element Activity Coefficients in Metal-Silicate Systems

The partitioning of trace elements between metal and silicate melts serves as the foundation for understanding the differentiation of a planetary body into a metallic core and silicate mantle. Element activity influences metal-silicate partitioning behavior. Activity coefficients are directly dependent on composition and temperature, and can be indirectly dependent on oxygen fugacity and pressure. Distinguishing the effect of pressure from other variables on the activity coefficients and partitioning is important for understanding the chemical evolution of different planetary bodies during differentiation. In this study, we investigated the influence of pressure on the activity coefficients of Cu, Mo, Pd, Pt, As, Sb, and Bi in Fe-Si metallic liquids. All of these elements exhibit moderate to high activity coefficients in Fe-Si liquids at low pressure, which significantly controls their metal-silicate partitioning behavior. Identifying whether this strong dependence persists at higher pressures is critical to modeling and understanding the chemical consequences of core formation. New experiments at 10 GPa were used to derive activity coefficients for these metals which can be compared to activity coefficients determined at 1 GPa. Experiments were conducted at 10 GPa and 2373K using a 10/5 assembly in the 880-ton multi-anvil press at NASA Johnson Space Center. The standard 10/5 COMPRES assembly was slightly modified to accommodate a sample capsule machined from single-crystal MgO that minimizes melt percolation out of the sample volume during the experiment. Experiment starting materials were comprised of 70 wt.% Knippa basalt and 30 wt.% metal. The metal mixture (~85 wt.% Fe) was created by adding the elements of interest (Cu, Mo, Pd, Pt, As, Sb, Bi) to Fe metal powder. Varied amounts of Si metal (0-10 wt.% Si) were added to the metal-silicate mixtures to generate a systematic series of starting materials. For each element, an epsilon interaction parameter in Fe-Si liquid was derived from the results of our 0-10 wt.% Si metal series. To investigate whether pressure influences the trace element activity coefficients in the 1-10 GPa pressure range, we compared our results at 10 GPa to those at 1-4 GPa [1-3]. Our results can also be directly compared to interaction parameters for Au, P, V, Mn, Ga, Zn, Cd, Sn, W, Pb, and Nb previously determined at 10 GPa and 2373K following the same methods [4]. Combined, this suite of interaction parameters will directly inform metal-silicate partitioning between 1 and 10 GPa, and assess whether these values can be extrapolated to modeling differentiation processes at pressures >10 GPa.

Kelsey Prissel↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Expansion of Additive Manufacturing Capabilities Into in Situ Alloying of Dispersion Strengthened, High Temperature Cu Alloys

New alloys and materials are potentially possible through additive manufacturing’s unique thermal history. Current literature explores the fabrication of eutectic and solid solution strengthened alloys through in-situ alloying, to take advantage of AM’s unique thermal history. The resulting lessons learned by in-situ alloying currently available materials will likely lead to the development of novel materials solely possible through in-situ alloying. This work will expand the application of in-situ alloying via additive manufacturing to NASA’s GRCop-42 (Cu-4at% Cr-2at% Nb), a high temperature copper alloy which has shown success in additively manufactured combustion chambers from pre-alloyed powders. GRCop-42 is unique to literature because a reaction to form the Cr2Nb dispersoids is required during the in-situ alloying. Both reaction completion rate and how input energy from the AM process influences the reaction progress will be evaluated. Ultimately, expansion of in-situ alloying capabilities provides further insight to develop novel materials using AM.

David Steven Scannapieco↗
NASA NTRS2022

Trace Element Partitioning Between Olivine and Melt in Lunar Basalts

Mineral/melt partition coefficients have been widely used to provide insights into magmatic processes. Olivine is one of the most abundant and important minerals in the lunar mantle and mare basalts. Yet, no systematic olivine/melt partitioning data are available for lunar conditions. We report trace element partition data between host mineral olivine and its melt inclusions in lunar basalts. Equilibrium is evaluated using the Fe-Mg exchange coefficient, leading to the choice of melt inclusion-host olivine pairs in lunar basalts 12040, 12009, 15016, 15647, and 74235. Partition coefficients of 21 elements (Li, Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Y, Zr, Nb, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) were measured. Except for Li, V, and Cr, these elements show no significant difference in olivine-melt partitioning compared to the data for terrestrial samples. The partition coefficient of Li between olivine and melt in some lunar basalts with low Mg# (Mg# < 0.75 in olivine, or < ~0.5 in melt) is higher than published data for terrestrial * Corresponding author. Email address: youxue@umich.edu 2 samples, which is attributed to the dependence of DLi on Mg# and the lack of literature DLi data with low Mg#. The partition coefficient of V in lunar basalts is measured to be 0.17 to 0.74, significantly higher than that in terrestrial basalts (0.003 to 0.21), which can be explained by the lower oxygen fugacity in lunar basalts. The significantly higher DV can explain why V is less enriched in evolved lunar basalts than terrestrial basalts. The partition coefficient of Cr between olivine and basalt melt in the Moon is 0.11 to 0.62, which is lower than those in terrestrial settings by a factor of approximately 2. This is surprising because previous authors showed that Cr partition coefficient is independent of fO2. A quasi-thermodynamically based model is developed to correlate Cr partition coefficient to olivine and melt composition and fO2. The lower Cr partition coefficient between olivine and basalt in the Moon can lead to more Cr enrichment in the lunar magma ocean, as well as more Cr enrichment in mantle-derived basalts in the Moon. Hence, even though Cr is typically a compatible element in terrestrial basalts, it is moderately incompatible in primitive lunar basalts, with a similar degree of incompatibility as V based on partition coefficients in this work, as also evidenced by the relatively constant V/Cr ratio of 0.039 ± 0.011 in lunar basalts. The confirmation of constant V/Cr ratio is important for constraining concentrations of Cr (slightly volatile and siderophile) and V (slightly siderophile) in the bulk silicate Moon.

partition coefficients↗
NASA NTRS2023

Homogeneity Study of ZrC, NbC, and TaC Binary Carbide Fuels for the Application of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

In alignment with NASA and DARPA goals, efforts towards Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) have increased in recent years. As progress is made, a main challenge still exists; the fuel in an NTP system must survive the extreme environment experienced during operating conditions. Three fuel forms have been studied including a ceramic-metallic matrix, a ceramic-ceramic matrix, and solid solution carbides. Solid solution carbides were studied previously as a fuel for NTP and was shown to be a promising technology; however, the programs were canceled before demonstration in an NTP engine test. Of the refractory metal carbides of interest, zirconium carbide (ZrC), niobium carbide (NbC) and tantalum carbide (TaC) were studied. ZrC, NbC, and TaC powders were consolidated in monocarbide (ZrC, NbC, TaC) and bi-carbide (ZrC-NbC, ZrC-TaC, NbC-TaC) forms using spark plasma sintering (SPS), with 50-50 mol% compositions of the bi-carbides of interest. The time and temperature conditions to achieve a completely homogeneous solid solution for the mixed carbides is of interest for NTP fuel applications, since this homogeneity is considered to be essential for this fuel form. Homogeneity is typically not achieved during sintering, as surface diffusion (predominant for sintering to near ideal density) tends to occur at lower temperatures than bulk volumetric diffusion (required for solute interdiffusion to achieve a homogeneous solid solution). High temperature isochronal annealing was performed to identify the conditions to achieve a chemically homogeneous sample. The solute interpenetration vs annealing temperature was quantified using energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS) in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to accurately measure the phase stability and lattice parameter as a function of annealing conditions. The diffusion data from each sample was then used to determine self-diffusion coefficients for interdiffusion of the Nb, Zr, and Ta solutes and compared to existing literature values. The minimum annealing conditions to achieve complete chemical homogeneity for each carbide was determined.

nuclear thermal propulsion↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Characterization of Additively Manufacture GRCop-42 and GRCop-84

GRCop-42 (Cu-4 at.% Cr-2 at.% Nb) is a copper-based alloy optimized for high temperature, high thermal conductivity applications such as regenerative cooled rocket engine liners. For this application, it is important to minimize contamination such as trace elements and ceramic inclusions. NASA initiated a series of ten builds by eight companies to assess the repeatability of GRCop-42 between vendors and machines. Utilizing inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) techniques allowed for identification of contaminants and quantification of their chemistry. In addition, additive manufacturing (AM) creates a unique microstructure that is often highly textured in the build (Z) direction. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was used to begin quantifying the degree of crystallographic texture in the copper matrix grains. It was also used to identify the crystallographic form of Cr2Nb, the main strengthening phase, present in the samples. Results showed the presence of ceramic inclusions, highly textured grains, and both the low and high temperature phases of Cr2Nb being present.

copper↗
NASA NTRS2023

Magnetic Anisotropy and Stress Dependent Epoxy Wetting in FeNi-based Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite

Recently developed FeNi-based metal amorphous nanocomposites (MANCs) used in high-speed motors (HSMs) exhibit reduced eddy current losses while maintaining good mechanical properties and glass-forming abilities. Magnetic anisotropy in (Fe 70 Ni 30 ) 80 Nb 4 B 14 Si 2 amorphous magnetic ribbon (AMR) in the as-cast state and upon conventional (T CA ) and strain (T SA ) annealing heat treatment is investigated. From ribbon samples in as-cast condition, quenched in stress from planar flow casting (PFC) induced as-cast curvature derived uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Stress relief by conventional furnace annealing at T CA > 350 °C achieved isotropic properties in the bulk. Annealing about the primary crystallization temperature, T CA ~ 450 °C, resulted in the formation of both FCC and BCC nanocrystallites and evolution to isotropic bulk magnetic properties confirming the random anisotropy model. In samples strain annealed at T SA = 440 °C at various tensions, relatively large controlled induced uniaxial anisotropy is achieved. The largest magnetic anisotropy occurs in annealing under the stress of 250 MPa yielding an anisotropy field of 7.1 x 10 4 A/m. Surface anisotropy observed by MOKE differs from bulk anisotropy due to image contrast from closure domains. Epoxy coatings are important for improved bonding, mechanical properties, and resistivity in tape-wound MANC cores for HSMs. Using a sessile droplet method, the equilibrium contact angle of an epoxy droplet on a tensile stress annealed MANC exhibits stress dependent surface energies. Anisotropic wetting in FeNi-based MANC heat treated at T CA = 440 °C mimics surface magnetic anisotropy observed by MOKE.

soft magnetic materials↗