Engineering PapersSearch

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Growth”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 73 records · Page 4

Facet-dependent growth and dissolution of hematite resulting from autocatalytic interactions with Fe(II) and oxalic acid

The ability to simultaneously monitor the flux of iron atoms within the solution and solid phases can provide considerable insight into mechanisms of iron oxide mineral transformations. The autocatalytic interaction between hematite and Fe(II)-oxalate has long been of interest for its environmental and industrial relevance. In this study we take advantage of iron isotopic labelling and mass-sensitive imaging at the single particle scale to determine how changes in solution composition correlate with the morphologic evolution of faceted, micrometer-sized hematite platelets. Net dissolution is confirmed through analyses of aqueous iron chemistry, as well as by quantitative atomic force microscopy. Isotopic mapping techniques show that Fe(II) readily adsorbs to (001) and (012) surfaces in the absence of oxalate, but when oxalate is present selective dissolution of the (001) surface prevails and 57Fe deposition via recrystallization is not observed. Comparison between particle microtopographies following reaction with Fe(II), oxalate, and Fe(II)-oxalate show substantially different behavior, consistent with distinct mechanisms of interaction with hematite surfaces. The extensive characterization conducted on the coupled solution/solid dynamics in this system provides new insight for distinguishing crystal growth, dissolution, and recrystallization processes.

Taylor, Sandra D. [BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)]

Growth of silicon ribbon by edge-defined, film-fed growth

Recent advances in the application of the edge-defined, film-fed growth (EFG) method to silicon ribbon are described. Ribbons up to 2 x 40 cm and 1 x 70 cm in width and length, respectively, have been grown at rates of 1 to 2.5 cm/min. The electrical properties of typical undoped ribbons are resistivity of 0.5 to 5 ohm-cm p-type, and hole mobility of 200 to 350 sq cm/V-sec. Ribbon growth speeds are consistent with the use of EFG silicon for terrestrial power.

Bates, H. E.

The effect of pre-stress cycles on fatigue crack growth - An analysis of crack growth mechanism

Cyclic prestress increases subsequent fatigue crack growth rate in 2024-T351 aluminum alloy. This increase in growth rate, caused by the prestress, and the increased rate, caused by temper embrittlement as observed by Ritchie and Knott (1973), cannot be explained by the crack tip blunting model alone. Each fatigue crack increment consists of two components, a brittle and a ductile component. They are controlled by the ductility of the material and its cyclic yield strength, respectively.

Kang, T. S.

Development of advanced methods for continuous Czochralski growth. Silicon sheet growth development for the large area silicon sheet task of the low cost silicon solar array project

The three components required to modify the furnace for batch and continuous recharging with granular silicon were designed. The feasibility of extended growth cycles up to 40 hours long was demonstrated by a recharge simulation experiment; a 6 inch diameter crystal was pulled from a 20 kg charge, remelted, and pulled again for a total of four growth cycles, 59-1/8 inch of body length, and approximately 65 kg of calculated mass.

Wolfson, R. G.

Development and evaluation of die materials for use in the growth of silicon ribbons by the inverted ribbon growth process, task 2. LSSA project

The results of emission spectroscopic analysis indicate that molten silicon can remain in contact with hot-pressed Si3N4 (99.2 percent theoretical density) for prolonged periods without attaining the impurity content level of the nitride. Although MgO was used as binder, Mg was not found present in the silicon sessile drop in quantities much above the level initially present in the silicon source material. Preliminary experiments with EFG-type dies coated with CVD Si3N4 or CVD SiOxNy indicate that capillary rise does not occur readily in these dies. The same was found to be true of hot-pressed and reaction-sintered Si3N4 obtained commercially. However, when dies were formed by depositing CVD layers on shaped silicon slabs, a column of molten silicon was maintained in each CVD die while being heated in contact with a crucible of molten silicon. Preliminary wetting of dies appears necessary for EFG growth. Several ribbon growth experiments were performed from V-shaped dies.

Duffy, M. T.

Continuous Czochralski growth: Silicon sheet growth development of the large area silicon sheet task of the Low Cost Silicon Solar Array project

The primary objective of this contract is to develop equipment and methods for the economic production of single crystal ingot material by the continuous Czochralski (CZ) process. Continuous CZ is defined for the purpose of this work as the growth of at least 100 kilograms of ingot from only one melt container. During the reporting period (October, 1977 - September, 1978), a modified grower was made fully functional and several recharge runs were performed. The largest run lasted 44 hours and over 42 kg of ingot was produced. Little, if any, degradation in efficiency was observed as a result of pulling multiple crystals from one crucible. Solar efficiencies observed were between 9.3 and 10.4% AMO (13.0 and 14.6% AMI) compared to 10.5% (14.7% AMI) for optimum CZ material control samples. Using the SAMICS/IPEG format, economic analysis of continuous CZ suggests that 1986 DoE cost goals can only be met by the growth of large diameter, large mass crystals.

Source record

Development and Evaluation of Die Materials for Use in the Growth of Silicon Ribbons by the Inverted Ribbon Growth Process. Task 2: LSSA Project

Several ribbon growth experiments were performed from V-shaped dies coated with CVD Si3N4. The most significant result was the ability to perform five consecutive growth runs from the same die without mechanical degradation of the die through temperature cycling. The die was made from vitreous carbon coated with CVD Si3N4. Silicon oxynitride, Si2N2O, was examined with respect to thermal stability in contact with molten silicon. The results of X-ray analysis indicate that this material is converted to both alpha - and beta-Si3N4 in the presence of molten silicon. Experiments on the stability of CVD SiOxNy shoe that this material can be maintained in contact with molten silicon (sessile drop test) for greater than 30 h at 1450 C without total decompositon. These layers are converted mainly to beta-Si3N4.

Duffy, M. T.

Progress in the growth of wide silicon ribbons by the EFG technique at high speed using multiple growth stations

We report here progress in a program designed to examine the feasibility of large scale production of low-cost silicon sheet substrates for solar cells by the EFG process. A multiple-ribbon EFG station, containing five single-ribbon cartridges, has been continuously operated for a period of 15 hours at a duty cycle of 94%. The average width of the ribbon grown was 5 cm, and the average growth speed was 3.4 cm/min. The cartridge concept of ribbon growth has been extended to successfully grow 10 cm wide ribbon at speeds up to 4 cm/min. Large area (approximately 50 sq cm) solar cells with efficiencies in the range from 8% to 11% (AM1) have been made from ribbon grown in the cartridge systems.

Kalejs, J. P.

Continuous Czochralski growth: Silicon sheet growth development of the large area sheet task of the low cost silicon solar array project

The growth of 100 kg of silicon single crystal material, ten cm in diameter or greater, and 150 kg of silicon single crystal material 15 cm or greater utilizing one common silicon container material (one crucible) is investigated. A crystal grower that is recharged with a new supply of polysilicon material while still under vacuum and at temperatures above the melting point of silicon is developed. It accepts large polysilicon charges up to 30 kg, grows large crystal ingots (to 15 cm diameter and 25 kg in weight), and holds polysilicon material for recharging (rod or lump) while, at the same time, growing crystal ingots. Special equipment is designed to recharge polysilicon rods, recharge polysilicon lumps, and handle and store large, hot silicon crystal ingots. Many continuous crystal growth runs were performed lasting as long as 109 hours and producing as many as ten crystal ingots, 15 cm with weights progressing to 27 kg.

Johnson, C. M.

Terrestrial growth of lead-tin-telluride by techniques related to low G growth

A modified Bridgman-Stockbarger furnace was constructed for a study of the solidification of silver, germanium and lead-tin-telluride. The melt-solid interface position with respect to the furnace and its temperature profile was determined by measuring the discontinuity in the slope of temperature as a function of position in the melt and in the solid. The results show that the interface position of the semiconductors germanium and lead-tin-telluride was essentially constant with respect to the furnace and hence the growth rate was constant and equal to the sample translation rate of 0.046 cm/min and 0.178 cm/min in each case. The metal, silver, on the other hand showed a continuous interface migration toward the hot zone of the furnace and always exhibited a growth rate which was higher than the ampoule translation rate. The K sub L/K sub S ratio of lead-tin-telluride was determined to be 2.33 + or - 0.06 where K sub L,S denotes the thermal conductivity of the liquid, solid respectively. The value of K sub L was calculated to be about 0.054 Watt 0.1 cm 0.1 K. The diffusion boundary layer thickness was calculated for lead-tin-telluride to be about 0.05 cm using a liquid diffusivity of .00007 sq cm/sec.

Jesser, W. A.

Plant Growth Biophysics: the Basis for Growth Asymmetry Induced by Gravity

The identification and quantification of the physical properties altered by gravity when plant stems grow upward was studied. Growth of the stem in vertical and horizontal positions was recorded by time lapse photography. A computer program that uses a cubic spline fitting algorithm was used to calculate the growth rate and curvature of the stem as a function of time. Plant stems were tested to ascertain whether cell osmotic pressure was altered by gravity. A technique for measuring the yielding properties of the cell wall was developed.

Cosgrove, D.

Growth factor involvement in tension-induced skeletal muscle growth

New muscle tissue culture techniques were developed to grow embryonic skeletal myofibers which are able to differentiate into more adultlike myofibers. Studies on mechanical simulation of cultured muscle cell growth will now be more directly applicable to mechanically-induced growth in adult muscle, and lead to better models for understanding muscle tissue atrophy caused by disuse in the microgravity of space.

Vandenburgh, Herman W.

Growth kinetics of physical vapor transport processes: Crystal growth of the optoelectronic material mercurous chloride

Physical vapor transport processes were studied for the purpose of identifying the magnitude of convective effects on the crystal growth process. The effects of convection on crystal quality were were studied by varying the aspect ratio and those thermal conditions which ultimately affect thermal convection during physical vapor transport. An important outcome of the present study was the observation that the convection growth rate increased up to a certain value and then dropped to a constant value for high aspect ratios. This indicated that a very complex transport had occurred which could not be explained by linear stability theory. Better quality crystals grown at a low Rayleigh number confirmed that improved properties are possible in convectionless environments.

Singh, N. B.

Growth of thin films of organic nonlinear optical materials by vapor growth processes - An overview and examination of shortfalls

Research on the growth of second- and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) organic thin film by vapor deposition is reviewed. Particular attention is given to the experimental methods for growing thin films of p-chlorophenylurea, diacetylenes, and phthalocyanines; characteristics of the resulting films; and approaches for advancing thin film technology. It is concluded that the growth of NLO thin films by vapor processes is a promising method for the fabrication of planar waveguides for nonlinear optical devices. Two innovative approaches are proposed including a method of controlling the input beam frequency to maximize nonlinear effects in thin films and single crystals, and the alternate approach to the molecular design of organic NLO materials by increasing the transition dipole moment between ground and excited states of the molecule.

Frazier, D. O.

Volume Diffusion Growth Kinetics and Step Geometry in Crystal Growth

The role of step geometry in two-dimensional stationary volume diff4sion process used in crystal growth kinetics models is investigated. Three different interface shapes: a) a planar interface, b) an equidistant hemispherical bumps train tAx interface, and c) a train of right angled steps, are used in this comparative study. The ratio of the super-saturation to the diffusive flux at the step position is used as a control parameter. The value of this parameter can vary as much as 50% for different geometries. An approximate analytical formula is derived for the right angled steps geometry. In addition to the kinetic models, this formula can be utilized in macrostep growth models. Finally, numerical modeling of the diffusive and convective transport for equidistant steps is conducted. In particular, the role of fluid flow resulting from the advancement of steps and its contribution to the transport of species to the steps is investigated.

Mazuruk, Konstantin

Quality assurance procedures for environmental control and monitoring in plant growth facilities. Report of the North Central Regional 101 Committee on Growth Chamber Use

This report includes procedures for ensuring the quality of the environment provided for plant growth in controlled environment facilities. Biologists and engineers may use these procedures for ensuring quality control during experiments or for ensuring quality control in the design of plant growth facilities. Environmental monitoring prior to and during experiments is included in these procedures. Specific recommendations cover control, acquisition, and calibration for sensor types for the separate parameters of radiation (light), temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and air movement.

NASA Discipline Number 61-10