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At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1999

Preliminary Results of the Third Test Series of Nonmetal Material Flammability Evaluation In SKOROST Apparatus on the Space Station Mir

The work has been done according to the US/Russian Joint Project "Experimental Evaluation of the Material Flammability in Microgravity" a continued combustion study in the SKOROST test apparatus on the OS Mir. The objective of the project was to evaluate the flammability and flame-spread rate for the selected polymer materials in low velocity flow in microgravity. Lately, the issue of nonmetal material combustion in microgravity has become of great importance, based on the necessity to develop the fire safety system for the new International Space Station (ISS). Lack of buoyant flow in microgravity reduces oxygen transfer into the combustion zone, which leads to flame extinction when the flow velocity is less than the limiting flow velocity V(sub lim) for the material. The ISS FGB fire-safety system was developed based on this phenomenon. The existence of minimum flow velocity V(sub lim) to sustain fire for the selected materials was determined both theoretically and experimentally. In the latter, it is shown that, even for thermally thin nonmetal materials with a very low oxygen index C(sub lim) of 12.5% (paper sheets with the thickness of 0.1 mm), a limiting flow velocity V(sub lim) exists at oxygen concentration Co(sub OX) = 17-21%, and is about 1.0 - 0.1 cm/sec. This might be explained by the relative increase in thermal losses due to radiation from the surface and from the gaseous phase. In the second series of experiments in Skorost apparatus on Orbital Station Mir the existence of the limiting flow velocity V(sub lim) for combustion was confirmed for PMMA and glass-epoxy composite strip samples 2 mm thick at oxygen concentration C(sub OX) = 21.5%. It was concluded that V(sub lim) depends on C(sub OX) for the PMMA sample with a low oxygen index of 15.5%, the limiting flow velocity V(sub lim) was less than 0.5 cm/sec, and for the glass-epoxy composite sample with a high oxygen index of 19%, the limiting flow velocity V(sub lim) was higher than 15 cm/sec. As of now only those materials that maintain their integrity during combustion were investigated. The materials that disintegrate when burning present more danger for fire safety because the flame can spread farther with the parts of the structure, ejected melt drops, et cetera. Materials such as polyethylene are of great interest since they form a lengthy melt zone during the combustion in normal gravity. This melt zone generates drops of liquids that promote faster flame spread compared to usual combustion. The preliminary results of polyethylene insulation flammability evaluation in microgravity are shown in the NASA Wire Insulation Flammability (WIF) experiment during Space Shuttle flight STS-50. A lot of interesting data was collected during the WIF test program. However, one of the most important results was that, in microgravity, the extinction of the polyethylene occurred almost immediately when the flow of relatively low oxygen concentration (C(sub OX)=21%) was stopped. The purpose of the work reported here is to expand the existing data base on material flammability in microgravity and to conduct the third series of the space experiment using Skorost apparatus on Orbiatl Station Mir with melting polymers, which might increase the probability of fire and its propagation in ventilated microgravity environment of orbiting spacecraft.

Ivanov, A. V.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Crystallization of Ca-Al-Rich Inclusions: Experimental Studies on the Effects of Repeated Heating Events

The observed textures and chemistry of Ca-Al-rich inclusions (CAIs) are presumed to be the culmination of a series of repeated heating and cooling events in the early history of the solar nebula. We have examined the effects of these heating/cooling cycles experimentally on a bulk composition representing an average Type B Ca-Al-rich inclusion composition. We have tested the effect of the nature of the starting material. Although the most recent and/or highest temperature event prior to incorporation into the parent body dominates the texture and chemistry of the CAI, prior events also affect the phase compositions and textures. We have determined that heating precursor grains to about 1275 C prior to the final melting event increases the likelihood of anorthite crystallization in subsequent higher temperature events and a prior high temperature even that produced dendritic melilite results in melilite that shows evidence of rapid crystallization in subsequent lower temperature events. Prior low temperature pre-crystallization events produce final ran products with pyroxene compositions similar to Type B Ca-Al-rich inclusions, and the glass (residual liquid) composition is more anorthitic than any other experiments to date. The addition of Pt powder to the starting material appears to enhance the ability of anorthite to nucleate from this composition.

Paque, Julie M.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Residual Gases in Crystal Growth Systems

Residual gases present in closed ampoules may affect different crystal growth processes. That seems to be particularly true under microgravity conditions where, due to weightlessness of the melt, the gases may lead to detached solidification and/or formation of voids and bubbles, as observed in the past. For that reason a good understanding and control of formation of residual gases is important for an optimum design and meaningful interpretation of crystal growth experiments. Our extensive experimental and theoretical studies of the subject, summarized in this paper, include degassing of silica glass and generation of gases from different source materials. Different materials processing conditions, like outgassing under vacuum, annealing in hydrogen, resublimation, different material preparation procedures, multiple annealings, different processing times, and others were applied and their effect on the amount and composition of gas were analyzed. The experimental results were interpreted based on theoretical calculations on diffusion in silica glass and source materials and thermochemistry of the system. Procedures for a reduction of the amount of gas are also discussed.

Palosz, W.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Thermal Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulants

Various high temperature chemical processes have been developed to extract oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. These processes are tested using terrestrial analogues of the regolith. But all practical terrestrial analogs contain H2O and/or OH(-), the presence of which has substantial impact on important system behaviors. We have undertaken studies of lunar regolith simulants to determine the limits of the simulants to validate key components for human survivability during sustained presence on the moon. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) yields information on phase transitions and melting temperatures. Themo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) with mass spectrometric (MS) determination of evolved gas species yields chemical information on various oxygenated volatiles (water, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and phosphorus oxides) and their evolution temperature profiles. The DTA and TGAMS studies included JSC-1A fine, NU-LHT-2M and its proposed feed stocks: anorthosite; dunite; HQ (high quality) glass and the norite from which HQ glass is produced. Fig 1 is a data profile for anorthosite. The DTA (Fig 1a) indicates exothermic transitions at 355 and 490 C and endothermic transitions at 970 and 1235 C. Below the 355 C transition, water (Molecular Weight, MW, 18 in Fig 1c) is lost accounting for approximately 0.1% mass loss due to water removal (Fig 1b). Just above 490 C a second type of water is lost, presumably bound in lattices of secondary minerals. Between 490 and the 970 transition other volatile oxides are lost including those of hydrogen (third water type), carbon (MW = 44), sulfur (MW = 64 and 80), nitrogen (MW 30 and 46) and possibly phosphorus (MW = 79, 95 or 142). Peaks at MW = 35 and 19 may be attributable to loss of chlorine and fluorine respectively. Negative peaks in the NO (MW = 30) and oxygen (MW = 32) MS profiles may indicate the production of NO2 (MW = 46). Because so many compounds are volatilized in this temperature range quantification of the mass loss associated with individual species is difficult. Similar information will be presented for the other materials studied in this investigation.

Street, Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS2010

Thermal Properties of Lunar Regolith Simulants

Various high temperature chemical processes have been developed to extract oxygen and metals from lunar regolith. These processes are tested using terrestrial analogues of the regolith. But all practical terrestrial analogs contain H2O and/or OH-, the presence of which has substantial impact on important system behaviors. We have undertaken studies of lunar regolith simulants to determine the limits of the simulants to validate key components for human survivability during sustained presence on the moon. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) yields information on phase transitions and melting temperatures. Themo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) with mass spectrometric (MS) determination of evolved gas species yields chemical information on various oxygenated volatiles (water, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and phosphorus oxides) and their evolution temperature profiles. The DTA and TGAMS studies included JSC-1A fine, NU-LHT-2M and its proposed feed stocks: anorthosite; dunite; HQ (high quality) glass and the norite from which HQ glass is produced. Fig 1 is a data profile for anorthosite. The DTA (Fig 1a) indicates exothermic transitions at 355 and 490 C and endothermic transitions at 970 and 1235 C. Below the 355 C transition, water (Molecular Weight, MW, 18 in Fig 1c) is lost accounting for approximately 0.1% mass loss due to water removal (Fig 1b). Just above 490 C a second type of water is lost, presumably bound in lattices of secondary minerals. Between 490 and the 970 transition other volatile oxides are lost including those of hydrogen (third water type), carbon (MW = 44), sulfur (MW = 64 and 80), nitrogen (MW 30 and 46) and possibly phosphorus (MW = 79, 95 or 142). Peaks at MW = 35 and 19 may be attributable to loss of chlorine and fluorine respectively. Negative peaks in the NO (MW = 30) and oxygen (MW = 32) MS profiles may indicate the production of NO2 (MW = 46). Because so many compounds are volatilized in this temperature range quantification of the mass loss associated with individual species is difficult. Similar information will be presented for the other materials studied in this investigation.

Street, Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS1975

Study of diffusion coefficients of glasses under zero-G

Diffusion studies of the glass forming ion are examined in zero-g environments and diffusion data obtained from these experiments are unique because of earth based experimental problems. The choice of system for diffusion studies is discussed along with the lab processing. The space processing is described consisting of a heating cycle designed to maximize time exposed to the diffusion temperature without exposing the low viscosity melt to gravitational forces.

Kinser, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Basalts from Mare Crisium

The stratified core sample returned from Mare Crisium by the Luna 24 unmanned space probe is composed primarily of a variety of subophitic to ophitic basalt with very low contents of TiO2 and MgO. This consists of clinopyroxene, calcic plagioclase, olivine, and minor amounts of silica, chromite, ulvoespinel, ilmenite, troilite, apatite, and Fe-metal. Granular metabasalts have the same bulk composition, but mineral phases exhibit less compositional variation. Fine-grained impact melts have similar compositions and are apparently derived from these basalts. It is concluded that the basalts, which are chemically distinct from the very-low-titanium basalts found elsewhere on the moon, represent the local surface flows of Mare Crisium. Sparse fragments of an olivine vitrophyre that is low in TiO2 but high in MgO and approaches the composition of the Apollo 15 green glasses may be derived from patches of dark mantling materials 20 km from the landing site.

Ryder, G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Lithic fragments, glasses and chondrules from Luna 16 fines.

Electron probe determination of the bulk compositions of igneous and microbreccia lithic fragments, glasses and chondrules from Luna 16 fines and of the compositions of minerals in basaltic lithic fragments. It is found that the Luna 16 fines have a composition more similar to that of Apollo 11 than to those of Apollo 12 and 14 materials. The compositions of lithic fragments, glasses and chondrules from Luna 16 core tube layers A and D are similar. The glasses are compositional analogs of the lithic fragments and are produced largely from igneous rocks. The Luna 16 chondrules have an anorthositic-noritic-troctolitic composition. Evidence for the presence of ferric iron and water-bearing minerals in the Luna 16 material is not obtained. The occurrence of a great variety of igneous rocks in the material confirms an earlier conclusion that large-scale melting or partial melting to a considerable depth and an extensive igneous differentiation must have occurred on the moon.

Keil, K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

High temperature behavior of glass (M-8)

The twofold purpose of this experiment is to obtain data on the occurrence of flow in a viscous glass sphere in microgravity, and to confirm data obtained on Earth for volume-temperature relationships of glass. To do this, a cubic sample of glass laced with gold particles will be heated in the IMF. The sample's properties will be measured at high temperature, and the volume of the sample varied to measure the expansion coefficient. Movement of the gold particles, if any, will determine flow within the sample. The apparatus for this experiment is schematically shown and the photographs of the image furnace with samples before and after melting, respectively. In this apparatus, shape and size of the sample are observed by video camera and recorded by video recorder. The recorded images of the sample are schematically shown. Symbols A, B, and C denote low, intermediate, and high temperatures, respectively. From these images, the volume of the sample is estimated and the temperature dependence of the volume, is obtained. If there is agreement between the data collected in this experiment and data obtained on Earth, it would tend to verify Earth-collected data.

Soga, Naohiro↗
NASA NTRS2005

Liquid Crystalline Thermosets from Ester, Ester-Imide, and Ester-Amide Oligomers

Main chain thermotropic liquid crystal esters, ester-imides, and ester-amides were prepared from AA, BB, and AB type monomeric materials and were end-capped with phenylacetylene, phenylmaleimide, or nadimide reactive end-groups. The resulting reactive end-capped liquid crystal oligomers exhibit a variety of improved and preferred physical properties. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are thermotropic and have, preferably, molecular weights in the range of approximately 1000-15,OOO grams per mole. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers have broad liquid crystalline melting ranges and exhibit high melt stability and very low melt viscosities at accessible temperatures. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are stable for up to an hour in the melt phase. These properties make the end-capped liquid crystal oligomers highly processable by a variety of melt process shape forming and blending techniques including film extrusion, fiber spinning, reactive injection molding (RIM), resin transfer molding (RTM), resin film injection (RFI), powder molding, pultrusion, injection molding, blow molding, plasma spraying and thermo-forming. Once processed and shaped, the end- capped liquid crystal oligomers were heated to further polymerize and form liquid crystalline thermosets (LCT). The fully cured products are rubbers above their glass transition temperatures. The resulting thermosets display many properties that are superior to their non-end-capped high molecular weight analogs.

Theodornus J Dingemans↗
NASA NTRS2005

Materials Refining for Solar Array Production on the Moon

Silicon, aluminum, and glass are the primary raw materials that will be required for production of solar arrays on the moon. A process sequence is proposed for producing these materials from lunar regolith, consisting of separating the required materials from lunar rock with fluorine. The fluorine is brought to the moon in the form of potassium fluoride, and is liberated from the salt by electrolysis in a eutectic salt melt. Tetrafluorosilane produced by this process is reduced to silicon by a plasma reduction stage; the fluorine salts are reduced to metals by reaction with metallic potassium. Fluorine is recovered from residual MgF and CaF2 by reaction with K2O.

Landis, Geoffrey A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The effect of solute on the homogeneous crystal nucleation frequency in metallic melts

A complete calculation that extends the classical theory for crystal nucleation in pure melts to binary alloys has been made. Using a regular solution model, approximate expressions have been developed for the free energy change upon crystallization as a function of solute concentration. They are used, together with model-based estimates of the interfacial tension, to calculate the nucleation frequency. The predictions of the theory for the maximum attainable undercooling are compared with existing experimental results for non-glass forming alloys. The theory is also applied to several easy glass-forming alloys (Pd-Si, Au-Si, Fe-B) for qualitative comparison with the present experimental experience on the ease of glass formation, and for assessment of the potential for formation of the glass in bulk.

Thompson, C. V.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Bulk undercooling

Bulk undercooling methods and procedures will first be reviewed. Measurement of various parameters which are necessary to understand the solidification mechanism during and after recalescence will be discussed. During recalescence of levitated, glass-encased large droplets (5 to 8 mm diam) high speed temperature sensing devices coupled with a rapid response oscilloscope are now being used at MIT to measure local thermal behavior in hypoeutectic and eutectic binary Ni-Sn alloys. Dendrite tip velocities were measured by various investigators using thermal sensors or high speed cinematography. The confirmation of the validity of solidification models of bulk-undercooled melts is made difficult by the fineness of the final microstructure, the ultra-rapid evolution of the solidifying system which makes measurements very awkward, and the continuous modification of the microstructure which formed during recalescence because of precipitation, remelting and rapid coarsening.

Kattamis, T. Z.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Method for forming hermetic seals

The firmly adherent film of bondable metal, such as silver, is applied to the surface of glass or other substrate by decomposing a layer of solution of a thermally decomposable metallo-organic deposition (MOD) compound such as silver neodecanoate in xylene. The MOD compound thermally decomposes into metal and gaseous by-products. Sealing is accomplished by depositing a layer of bonding metal, such as solder or a brazing alloy, on the metal film and then forming an assembly with another high melting point metal surface such as a layer of Kovar. When the assembly is heated above the temperature of the solder, the solder flows, wets the adjacent surfaces and forms a hermetic seal between the metal film and metal surface when the assembly cools.

Gallagher, Brian D.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Liquid crystalline thermosets from ester, ester-imide, and ester-amide oligomers

Main chain thermotropic liquid crystal esters, ester-imides, and ester-amides were prepared from AA, BB, and AB type monomeric materials and were end-capped with phenylacetylene, phenylmaleimide, or nadimide reactive end-groups. The resulting reactive end-capped liquid crystal oligomers exhibit a variety of improved and preferred physical properties. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are thermotropic and have, preferably, molecular weights in the range of approximately 1000-15,000 grams per mole. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers have broad liquid crystalline melting ranges and exhibit high melt stability and very low melt viscosities at accessible temperatures. The end-capped liquid crystal oligomers are stable for up to an hour in the melt phase. These properties make the end-capped liquid crystal oligomers highly processable by a variety of melt process shape forming and blending techniques including film extrusion, fiber spinning, reactive injection molding (RIM), resin transfer molding (RTM), resin film injection (RFI), powder molding, pultrusion, injection molding, blow molding, plasma spraying and thermo-forming. Once processed and shaped, the end-capped liquid crystal oligomers were heated to further polymerize and form liquid crystalline thermosets (LCT). The fully cured products are rubbers above their glass transition temperatures. The resulting thermosets display many properties that are superior to their non-end-capped high molecular weight analogs.

Dingemans, Theodorous J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ni partitioning between diopside and silicate melt - A redetermination by ion microprobe and recognition of an experimental complication

The capabilities of and potential problems with ion microprobe analysis are illustrated in the determination of Ni distribution between silicate melt and diopside as a function of concentration. Samples of diopside and a melt in the albite-anorthite-diopside system were doped with Ni to levels of 5.22 and 1.08 wt % and 1060, 138, 42 and 30 ppm, and with 3 ppm of Ni-63, and characterized by both electron and ion microprobe techniques. Measurements of Ni-62 distribution by the ion probe method give a ratio of 1.87 for the ratio of count rates in the diopsides with the glass, which is slightly lower than the value of 2.05 obtained from beta-track mapping. The measurements required the secondary ion signal to be linear with concentration in the range measured, and a calibration to correct for differential secondary ion yields from different phases. It is found, however, that partition coefficients measured for Ni-58 and Ni-60 are not constant with Ni concentration, probably due to Ni migration during crystallization. The results thus show ion microprobe analyses to be feasible for simultaneous measurements of distributions of more than one element, and of elements inappropriate for beta-track mapping or electron probe analysis.

Steele, I. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

An experimental investigation of agglutinate melting mechanisms - Shocked mixtures of Apollo 11 and 16 soils

Mixtures of chemically contrasting lunar soils have been shocked at pressures ranging from 18.2-62.0 GPa. Other than the generation of impact melts, modal and textural changes caused by shock include destruction of pore space and fused soil clasts and conversion of plagioclase to maskelynite. The loss of the fused soil component in these runs indicates that low agglutinate contents in shocked and/or compacted regolith breccias cannot be considered by themselves to be evidence of formation from immature regolith. From the petrographic and chemical data it appears that the impact glass formed mainly from the fine fraction and the fused soil component in the target, with relatively minor contributions from the other coarse clasts. The impact glasses exhibit the same chemical enrichments and depletions as their corresponding fine fractions and plot on or near a mixing line between the bulk and fine fraction of the soil in which they were formed. From this as well as several other studies it appears that the fusion of the finest fraction model is valid and that it accurately predicts the chemical systematics of impact glass formed from lunar soil. In addition, fusion of agglutinates present in the target soil is an important process.

Simon, S. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Low cost silicon solar array project silicon materials task: Establishment of the feasibility of a process capable of low-cost, high volume production of silane (step 1) and the pyrolysis of silane to semiconductor-grade silicon (step 2)

Extended operation of a small process-development unit routinely produced high quality silane in 97+% yield from dichlorosilane. The production rate was consistent with design loadings for the fractionating column and for the redistribution reactor. A glass fluid-bed reactor was constructed for room temperature operation. The behavior of a bed of silcon particles was observed as a function of various feedstocks, component configurations, and operating conditions. For operating modes other than spouting, the bed behaved in an erratic and unstable manner. A method was developed for casting molten silicon powder into crack-free solid pellets for process evaluation. The silicon powder was melted and cast into thin walled quartz tubes that sacrificially broke on cooling.

Breneman, W. C.↗