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At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2003

Properties of the Hermean Regolith: New Optical Reflectance Spectra, Comparison with Lunar Anorthosites and Mineralogical Modelling - 5

We present new optical (0.4-0.65 micron) spectra of Mercury and lunar pure anorthosite locations, obtained quasi-simultaneously with the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) in 2002. A comparative study is performed with the model of Lucey et al. between iron-poor, mature, pure anorthosite (less than 90% plagioclase feldspar) Clementine spectra from the lunar farside and a combined 0.4-1.0 micron mercurian spectrum, obtained with the NOT, calculated for standard photometric geometry. Mercury is located at more extreme locations in the Lucey ratio-reflectance diagrams than any known lunar soil, specifically with respect to the extremely iron-poor mature anorthosites. Though quantitative prediction of FeO and TiO2 abundances cannot be made without a more generally applicable model, we find qualitatively that the abundances of both these oxides must be near zero for Mercury. We utilize the theory of Hapke, with realistic photometric parameters, to model laboratory spectra of matured mineral powders and lunar soils, and remotely sensed spectra of lunar anorthosites and Mercury. An important difference between fabricated and natural powders is the high value for the internal scattering parameter necessary to interpret the spectra for the former, and the requirement of rough and non-isotropically scattering surfaces in the modelling of the latter. The mature lunar anorthosite spectra were well modelled with binary mixtures of calcic feldspars and olivines, grain sizes of 25-30 micron and a concentration of submicroscopic metallic iron (SMFe) of 0.12-0.15% in grain coatings. The mercurian spectrum is not possible to interpret from terrestrial mineral powder spectra without introducing an average particle scattering function for the bulk soil that increases in backscattering efficiency with wavelength. The observed spectrum is somewhat better predicted with binary mixture models of feldspars and pyroxenes, that single-component regoliths consisting of either albite or diopside. Correct spectral reflectance values were predicted with a concentration of 0.1 wt% SMFe in coatings of 15-30 micron sized grains. Since reasonable cosmogonical formation scenarios for Mercury, or meteoritic infall, predict iron concentrations at least this high, we draw the conclusion that the average grain size of Mercury is about a factor of two smaller than for average returned lunar soil samples. The 0.6-2.5 micron spectrum of McCord and Clark is used to further limit the possible range of mineralogical composition of Mercury. It is found that an intimately mixed and matured 3 : 1 labradorite-to-enstatite regolith composition best matches both the optical and near-infrared spectra, yielding an abundance of approx. 1.2 wt% FeO and -approx. 0 wt% TiO2.

Warell, J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Resuspension of Particles by Aerodynamic Deagglomeration

A deagglomerator system was developed, characterized by laboratory tests and flown under low gravity (low-g) microgravity conditions. Requirements for a dry powder deagglomeration system were generated by university and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists from diverse fields of interest including exobiology, planetary sciences, and atmospheric sciences. Existing deagglomeration methods and devices are reviewed. An aerosol generation method suitable for dry powders over a large range of particles sizes and types at high concentrations with consistent deagglomeration efficiency was evaluated. Development of a pulsed-flow laboratory device and experimental approaches to meet the requirements without being g- dependent are described. Results of laboratory one-g quantitative characterization on one type of dry powder particle generator is discussed. Data from NASA low-g tests are summarized.

Fonda, Mark↗
NASA NTRS2004

Thermal Effects on a Low Cr Modification of PS304 Solid Lubricant Coating

PS304 is a high temperature composite solid lubricant coating composed of Ni-Cr, Cr2O3, BaF2-CaF2 and Ag. The effect of reducing chromium content on the formation of voids in the Ni-Cr particles after heat treatment in PS304 coating was investigated. Coatings were prepared with Ni-20Cr or Ni-10Cr powder and in various combinations with the other constituents of PS304 (i.e., chromia, silver and eutectic BaF2-CaF2 powders) and deposited on metal substrates by plasma spray. Specimens were exposed to 650 C for 24 hr or 1090 C for 15 hr and then examined for changes in thickness, coating microstructure and adhesion strength. Specimens with Ni-10Cr generally had less thickness increase than specimens with Ni-20Cr, but there was great variance in the data. Reduction of chromium concentration in Ni-Cr powder tended to reduce the appearance of voids in the Ni-Cr phase after heat exposure. The presence of BaF2-CaF2 resulted in a significant increase in coating adhesion strength after heat treatment, while coatings without BaF2-CaF2 had no significant change. Chemical composition analysis suggested that the void formation was due to oxidation of chromium in the Ni-Cr constituent.

Stanford, Malcolm K.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Synthesis of Nano-Crystalline Gamma-TiAl Materials

One of the principal problems with nano-crystalline materials is producing them in quantities and sizes large enough for valid mechanical property evaluation. The purpose of this study was to explore an innovative method for producing nano-crystalline gamma-TiAl bulk materials using high energy ball milling and brief secondary processes. Nano-crystalline powder feedstock was produced using a Fritsch P4(TM) vario-planetary ball mill recently installed at NASA-LaRC. The high energy ball milling process employed tungsten carbide tooling (vials and balls) and no process control agents to minimize contamination. In a collaborative effort, two approaches were investigated, namely mechanical alloying of elemental powders and attrition milling of pre-alloyed powders. The objective was to subsequently use RF plasma spray deposition and short cycle vacuum hot pressing in order to effect consolidation while retaining nano-crystalline structure in bulk material. Results and discussion of the work performed to date are presented.

Hales, Stephen J.↗
NASA NTRS2004

High Pressure X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Nanocrystalline Materials

Experimental evidence obtained for a variety of nanocrystalline materials suggest that the crystallographic structure of a very small size particle deviates from that in the bulk crystals. In this paper we show the effect of the surface of nanocrystals on their structure by the analysis of generation and distribution of macro- and micro-strains at high pressures and their dependence on the grain size in nanocrystalline powders of Sic. We studied the structure of Sic nanocrystals by in-situ high-pressure powder diffraction technique using synchrotron and neutron sources and hydrostatic or isostatic pressure conditions. The diffraction measurements were done in HASYLAB at DESY using a Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC) in the energy dispersive geometry in the diffraction vector range up to 3.5 - 4/A and under pressures up to 50 GPa at room temperature. In-situ high pressure neutron diffraction measurements were done at LANSCE in Los Alamos National Laboratory using the HIPD and HIPPO diffractometers with the Paris-Edinburgh and TAP-98 cells, respectively, in the diffraction vector range up to 26 Examination of the response of the material to external stresses requires nonstandard methodology of the materials characterization and description. Although every diffraction pattern contains a complete information on macro- and micro-strains, a high pressure experiment can reveal only those factors which contribute to the characteristic diffraction patterns of the crystalline phases present in the sample. The elastic properties of powders with the grain size from several nm to micrometers were examined using three methodologies: (l), the analysis of positions and widths of individual Bragg reflections (used for calculating macro- and micro-strains generated during densification) [I], (2). the analysis of the dependence of the experimental apparent lattice parameter, alp, on the diffraction vector Q [2], and (3), the atomic Pair Distribution Function (PDF) technique [3]. The results of our studies show, that Sic nanocrystals have the features of two phases, each with its distinct elastic properties. and under pressures up to 8 GPa.

Palosz, B.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Development of Ceramic Systems for High temperature Coatings

Professor Eslamloo-Grami will synthesize ceramic powders of various compositions based on pyrochlore, perovskite, and magnetoplumbite structures by doping with various oxides. Sol-gel and combustion synthesis routes will be used for powder syntheses. The powders will be characterized for particle size, surface area, microstructure, sintering etc. Thermal conductivity of the hot pressed specimens will also be measured at various temperatures. At the end, a project report will be prepared describing in details the experimental methods, results, discussion, and future research.

Eslamloo-Grami, Maryame↗
NASA NTRS1986

The effects of bone on proton NMR relaxation times of surrounding liquids

Preliminary attempts by our group at UCSF to assess fat content of vertebral marrow in the lumbar spine using relaxation time information demonstrated that the presence of trabecular bone affects relaxation times. The objective of this work was a thorough study of the effects of bone on NMR relaxation characteristics of surrounding liquids. Trabecular bone from autopsy specimens was ground up and sifted into a series of powders with graded densities ranging from 0.3 gm/cc to 0.8 gm/cc. Each powder was placed first in n-saline and then in cottonseed oil. With spectroscopy, spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) and effective spin-spin relaxation times (T2*) were measured for each liquid in each bone powder. As bone density and surface to volume ratio increased, T1 decreased faster for saline than for oil. T2* decreased significantly for both water and oil as the surface to volume ratio increased. It was concluded that effects of water on T1 could be explained by a surface interaction at the bone/liquid interface, which restricted rotational and translational motion of nearby molecules. The T1s of oil were not affected since oil molecules are nonpolar, do not participate in significant intermolecular hydrogen bonding, and therefore would not be expected to interact strongly with the bone surface. Effects on T2* could be explained by local magnetic field inhomogeneities created by discontinuous magnetic susceptibility near the bone surface. These preliminary results suggest that water in contact with trabecular bone in vivo will exhibit shortened relaxation times.

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗
NASA NTRS1999

High-Performance Bipropellant Engine

TRW, under contract to the NASA Lewis Research Center, has successfully completed over 10 000 sec of testing of a rhenium thrust chamber manufactured via a new-generation powder metallurgy. High performance was achieved for two different propellants, N2O4- N2H4 and N2O4 -MMH. TRW conducted 44 tests with N2O4-N2H4, accumulating 5230 sec of operating time with maximum burn times of 600 sec and a specific impulse Isp of 333 sec. Seventeen tests were conducted with N2O4-MMH for an additional 4789 sec and a maximum Isp of 324 sec, with a maximum firing duration of 700 sec. Together, the 61 tests totalled 10 019 sec of operating time, with the chamber remaining in excellent condition. Of these tests, 11 lasted 600 to 700 sec. The performance of radiation-cooled rocket engines is limited by their operating temperature. For the past two to three decades, the majority of radiation-cooled rockets were composed of a high-temperature niobium alloy (C103) with a disilicide oxide coating (R512) for oxidation resistance. The R512 coating practically limits the operating temperature to 1370 C. For the Earth-storable bipropellants commonly used in satellite and spacecraft propulsion systems, a significant amount of fuel film cooling is needed. The large film-cooling requirement extracts a large penalty in performance from incomplete mixing and combustion. A material system with a higher temperature capability has been matured to the point where engines are being readied for flight, particularly the 100-lb-thrust class engine. This system has powder rhenium (Re) as a substrate material with an iridium (Ir) oxidation-resistant coating. Again, the operating temperature is limited by the coating; however, Ir is capable of long-life operation at 2200 C. For Earth-storable bipropellants, this allows for the virtual elimination of fuel film cooling (some film cooling is used for thermal control of the head end). This has resulted in significant increases in specific impulse performance (15 to 20 sec). To determine the merits of a powder rhenium thrust chamber, Lewis On-Board Propulsion Branch directed TRW (under the Space Storable Rocket Technology Program and the High Pressure Earth Storable Rocket Technology Program) to design, fabricate, and test an engineering model to serve as a technology demonstrator.

Biaglow, James A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Fabrication of GRCop-84 Rocket Thrust Chambers

GRCop-84, a copper alloy, Cu-8 at% Cr-4 at% Nb developed at NASA Glenn Research Center for regeneratively cooled rocket engine liners has excellent combinations of elevated temperature strength, creep resistance, thermal conductivity and low cycle fatigue. GRCop-84 is produced from prealloyed atomized powder and has been fabricated into plate, sheet and tube forms as well as near net shapes. Fabrication processes to produce demonstration rocket combustion chambers will be presented and includes powder production, extruding, rolling, forming, friction stir welding, and metal spinning. GRCop-84 has excellent workability and can be readily fabricated into complex components using conventional powder and wrought metallurgy processes. Rolling was examined in detail for process sensitivity at various levels of total reduction, rolling speed and rolling temperature representing extremes of commercial processing conditions. Results indicate that process conditions can range over reasonable levels without any negative impact to properties.

Loewenthal, William S.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Fabrication of GRCop-84 Rocket Thrust Chambers

GRCop-84, a copper alloy, Cu-8 at% Cr-4 at% Nb developed at NASA Glenn Research Center for regenerative1y cooled rocket engine liners has excellent combinations of elevated temperature strength, creep resistance, thermal conductivity and low cycle fatigue. GRCop-84 is produced from pre-alloyed atomized powder and has been fabricated into plate, sheet and tube forms as well as near net shapes. Fabrication processes to produce demonstration rocket combustion chambers will be presented and includes powder production, extruding, rolling, forming, friction stir welding, and metal spinning. GRCop-84 has excellent workability and can be readily fabricated into complex components using conventional powder and wrought metallurgy processes. Rolling was examined in detail for process sensitivity at various levels of total reduction, rolling speed and rolling temperature representing extremes of commercial processing conditions. Results indicate that process conditions can range over reasonable levels without any negative impact to properties.

Loewenthal, William↗
NASA NTRS2007

Recent Progress in the Development of Neodymium Doped Ceramic Yttria

Solid-state lasers play a significant role in providing the technology necessary for active remote sensing of the atmosphere. Neodymium doped yttria (Nd:Y2O3) is considered to be an attractive material due to its possible lasing wavelengths of aprrox.914 nm and approx.946 nm for ozone profiling. These wavelengths when frequency tripled can generate UV light at approx.305 nm and approx.315 nm, which is particularly useful for ozone sensing using differential absorption lidar technique. For practical realization of space based UV transmitter technology, ceramic Nd:Y2O3 material is considered to possess great potential. A plasma melting and quenching method has been developed to produce Nd3+ doped powders for consolidation into Nd:Y2O3 ceramic laser materials. This far-from-equilibrium processing methodology allows higher levels of rare earth doping than can be achieved by equilibrium methods. The method comprises of two main steps: (a) plasma melting and quenching to generate dense, and homogeneous doped metastable powders, (b) pressure assisted consolidation of these powders by hot isostatic pressing to make dense nanocomposite ceramics. Using this process, several 1" x 1" ceramic cylinders have been produced. The infrared transmission of undoped Y2O3 ceramics was as high as approx.75% without anti-reflection coating. In the case of Nd:Y2O3 ceramics infrared transmission values of approx.50% were achieved. Furthermore, Nd:Y2O3 samples with dopant concentrations of up to approx.2 at. % were prepared without significant emission quenching.

Prasad, Narasimha S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Method of decontaminating a contaminated fluid by using photocatalytic particles

A system for decontaminating the contaminated fluid by using photocatalytic particles. The system includes a reactor tank for holding the contaminated fluid and the photocatalytic particles suspended in the contaminated fluid to form a slurry. Light irradiates the surface of the slurry, thereby activating the photocatalytic properties of the particles. The system also includes stirring blades for continuously agitating the irradiated fluid surface and for maintaining the particles in a suspended state within the fluid. The system also includes a cross flow filter for segregating the fluid (after decomposition) from the semiconductor powder. The cross flow filter is occasionally back flushed to remove any semiconductor powder that might have caked on the filter. The semiconductor powder may be recirculated back to the tank for reuse, or may be stored for future use. A series of such systems may be used to gradually decompose a chemical in the fluid. Preferably, the fluid is pretreated to remove certain metal ions which interfere with the photocatalytic process. Such pretreatment may be accomplished by dispersing semiconductor particles within the fluid, which adsorb ions or photodeposit the metal as the free metal or its insoluble oxide or hydroxide, and then removing the semiconductor particles together with the adsorbed metal ions/oxides/hydroxide/free metal from the fluid. A method of decontaminating a contaminated fluid is also disclosed.

Cooper, Gerald↗
NASA NTRS1982

Method of densifying an article formed of reaction bonded silicon nitride

A method of densifying an article formed of reaction bonded silicon nitride is disclosed. The reaction bonded silicon nitride article is packed in a packing mixture consisting of silicon nitride powder and a densification aid. The reaction bonded silicon nitride article and packing powder are sujected to a positive, low pressure nitrogen gas treatment while being heated to a treatment temperature and for a treatment time to cause any open porosity originally found in the reaction bonded silicon nitride article to be substantially closed. Thereafter, the reaction bonded silicon nitride article and packing powder are subjected to a positive high pressure nitrogen gas treatment while being heated to a treatment temperature and for a treatment time to cause a sintering of the reaction bonded silicon nitride article whereby the strength of the reaction bonded silicon nitride article is increased.

Mangels, John A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Apparatus for photocatalytic treatment of liquids

Apparatus for decontaminating a contaminated fluid by using photocatalytic particles. The apparatus includes a reactor tank for holding a slurry of the contaminated fluid and the photocatalytic particles ultraviolet light irradiates the surface of the slurry, thereby activating the photocatalytic properties of the particles. Stirring blades for continuously agitate the irradiated fluid surface maintaining the particles in a suspended state within the fluid. A cross flow filter is used for separating the fluid from the semiconductor powder after the decomposition reaction is ended. The cross flow filter is occasionally back flushed to remove any caked semiconductor powder. The semiconductor powder may be recirculated back to the tank for reuse, or may be stored for future use. A series of reactor tanks may be used to gradually decompose a chemical in the fluid. The fluid may be pretreated to remove certain metal ions which interfere with the photocatalytic process. Such pretreatment may be accomplished by dispersing semiconductor particles within the fluid, which particles adsorb ions or photodeposit the metal as the free metal or its insoluble oxide or hydroxide, and then removing the semiconductor particles together with the adsorbed metal ions/oxides/hydroxide/free metal from the fluid.

Cooper, Gerald↗
NASA NTRS1991

Multilayer ceramic oxide solid electrolyte for fuel cells and electrolysis cells

A unitary layered ceramic structure is disclosed which comprises co-sintered layers. The co-sintered structure comprises a sintered central layer of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) which is about 8 mole percent yttria and having a density of at least about 95% of theoretical, and sintered outer layers of strontium lanthanum manganite (LSM) having the approximate molecular composition La.sub.0.8 Sr.sub.0.2 MnO.sub.3, having a density from about 50 to about 60% of theoretical, and having interconnected porosity from about 40 to 50% with an interconnected pore diameter from about one micron to about five microns. The sintered central layer is sandwiched by and bonded and sintered to the outer layers and is essentially free of significant amounts of manganese. A process for making the unitary composition-of-matter is also disclosed which involves tape casting a LSM tape and then on top thereof casting a YSZ tape. The process comprises presintering LSM powder at 1250.degree. F., crushing the presintered commercially available LSM powder, forming a slurry with the crushed LSM, a binder and solvent, tape casting the slurry and allowing the slurry to air dry. A mixture of commercially available submicron size particle YSZ powder is milled with a dispersant and solvent to disperse the YSZ particles thereby forming a dispersed YSZ slurry. The YSZ slurry is then tape cast on the dried LSM tape. If desired, a third layer of LSM can be cast on top of the dried YSZ layer. After drying the composite LSM/YSZ and LSM/YSZ/LSM tapes are fired at 1300.degree. C. No migration of manganese into the YSZ layer was observed with scanning electron microscope/edax in the sintered multilayer tape.

Schroeder, James E.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Method for thermally spraying crack-free mullite coatings on ceramic-based substrates

A process for depositing a mullite coating on a silicon-based material, such as those used to form articles exposed to high temperatures and including the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The process is generally to thermally spray a mullite powder to form a mullite layer on a substrate, in which the thermal spraying process is performed so that the mullite powder absorbs a sufficient low level of energy from the thermal source to prevent evaporation of silica from the mullite powder. Processing includes deposition parameter adjustments or annealing to maintain or reestablish phase equilibrium in the mullite layer, so that through-thickness cracks in the mullite layer are avoided.

Spitsberg, Irene T.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Method for thermally spraying crack-free mullite coatings on ceramic-based substrates

A process for depositing a mullite coating on a silicon-based material, such as those used to form articles exposed to high temperatures and including the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. The process is generally to thermally spray a mullite powder to form a mullite layer on a substrate, in which the thermal spraying process is performed so that the mullite powder absorbs a sufficient low level of energy from the thermal source to prevent evaporation of silica from the mullite powder. Processing includes deposition parameter adjustments or annealing to maintain or reestablish phase equilibrium in the mullite layer, so that through-thickness cracks in the mullite layer are avoided.

Spitsberg, Irene T.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Nanostructured and layered lithium manganese oxide and method of manufacturing the same

Nanostructured and layered lithium manganese oxide powders and methods of producing same. The powders are represented by the chemical formula, LixMn1-yMyO2, where 0.5<x<1.33, 0?y?0.5 and have an average primary particle diameter from 5 nm to 300 nm, preferably between 5 and 100 nm, and M is at least one cation dopant. The powders can be formed into active cathode materials in Li-ion and Li rechargeable batteries.

Singhal, Amit↗