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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Metal-semiconductor interfacial reactions - Ni/Si system

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and channeling measurements with MeV He-4(+) ions have been used to probe the structure of the interface in the Ni/Si system. It is found that reactions occur where Ni is deposited on Si at 10 to the -10th torr: Si atoms are displaced from lattice sites, the Ni atoms are in an Si-rich environment, and the Ni/Si interface is graded in composition. Composition gradients are present at both interfaces in the Si/Ni2/Si/Ni system. For the Ni-Si system, cooling the substrate to 100 K slows down the reaction rate. The temperature dependence of the interfacial reactivity indicates the kinetic nature of metal-semiconductor interfaces.

Cheung, N. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Thermal barrier coatings for superalloys

The current status of ceramic thermal barrier coatings for protection of turbine airfoil components is reviewed. Test results for an early duplex coating system ZrO2-12% Y2O3/Ni-16% Cr-6% Al-0.6% Y, improved system ZrO2-8% Y2O3/Ni-17% Cr-5% Al-0.35% Y, and air/fuel impurity tolerant systems based on ZrO2-8% Y2O3, 2CaO-SiO2, and a MgO-NiCrAlY cermet are discussed. Preliminary test results at 800 C for a graded ZrO2-8% Y2O3/Ni-20% Cr-11% Al-0.4% Y coating system show that the coating can survive at least 500 hr in the presence of 50 ppm V plus other fuel contaminants and additives.

Miller, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Low-Waste Purification of Silicon

Ultra-high-purity silicon required for solar cells, transistors and integrated circuits can be produced from metallurgical grade silicon by formation and pyrolysis of silane gas in continuous-flow process that maximizes product purity with minimum amount of equipment. Integrated process recycles unreacted and byproduct materials, minimizing material losses and simplifying waste disposal. Ensures effective removal of impurities, including boron.

Breneman, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Closed-Loop Process Yields Ultrapure Silicon

Metallurgical-grade silicon transforms into tribromosilane by reacting it with process byproducts. Tribromosilane is separated from mixture, purified, and finally decomposed in presence of hydrogen in silicon-product reactor. Conversion efficiencies of 30 to greater than 60 percent of tribromosilane to ultrapure granular polycrystalline silicon are typical in produce reactor.

Schumacher, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Sodium Spray Would Speed Silicon Production

Production rate of solar-grade silicon in sodium/silicon tetrafluoride reactor increase by spray feed. Liquid-sodium droplet size is controlled by pressure of argon gas and by nozzle design. Baffle helps to prevent reactor opening from becoming clogged by reaction products.

Sancier, K. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The effects of impurities on the performance of silicon solar cells

The major factors that determine the tolerable concentrations of impurities in silicon feedstock for solar cells used in power generation are discussed in this report. It is concluded that a solar-grade silicon can be defined only for a specific manufacturing process. It is also concluded that it is the electrical effects, efficiency and resistivity, that are dominant in determining tolerable concentrations of impurities in the silicon feedstock. Crystal growth effects may become important when faster growth rates and larger crystal diameters are developed and used.

Yamakawa, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Catalytic combustion of residual fuels

A noble metal catalytic reactor was tested using two grades of petroleum derived residual fuels at specified inlet air temperatures, pressures, and reference velocities. Combustion efficiencies greater than 99.5 percent were obtained. Steady state operation of the catalytic reactor required inlet air temperatures of at least 800 K. At lower inlet air temperatures, upstream burning in the premixing zone occurred which was probably caused by fuel deposition and accumulation on the premixing zone walls. Increasing the inlet air temperature prevented this occurrence. Both residual fuels contained about 0.5 percent nitrogen by weight. NO sub x emissions ranged from 50 to 110 ppm by volume at 15 percent excess O2. Conversion of fuel-bound nitrogen to NO sub x ranged from 25 to 50 percent.

Bulzan, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Development of a high-temperature durable catalyst for use in catalytic combustors for advanced automotive gas turbine engines

Durable catalytic reactors for advanced gas turbine engines were developed. Objectives were: to evaluate furnace aging as a cost effective catalytic reactor screening test, measure reactor degradation as a function of furnace aging, demonstrate 1,000 hours of combustion durability, and define a catalytic reactor system with a high probability of successful integration into an automotive gas turbine engine. Fourteen different catalytic reactor concepts were evaluated, leading to the selection of one for a durability combustion test with diesel fuel for combustion conditions. Eight additional catalytic reactors were evaluated and one of these was successfully combustion tested on propane fuel. This durability reactor used graded cell honeycombs and a combination of noble metal and metal oxide catalysts. The reactor was catalytically active and structurally sound at the end of the durability test.

Tong, H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ultrasonic velocity for estimating density of structural ceramics

The feasibility of using ultrasonic velocity as a measure of bulk density of sintered alpha silicon carbide was investigated. The material studied was either in the as-sintered condition or hot isostatically pressed in the temperature range from 1850 to 2050 C. Densities varied from approximately 2.8 to 3.2 g cu cm. Results show that the bulk, nominal density of structural grade silicon carbide articles can be estimated from ultrasonic velocity measurements to within 1 percent using 20 MHz longitudinal waves and a commercially available ultrasonic time intervalometer. The ultrasonic velocity measurement technique shows promise for screening out material with unacceptably low density levels.

Klima, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Moderate temperature detector development

P-side backside reflecting constant, photodiode characterization, and photodiode diffusion and G-R currents were investigated in an effort to develop an 8 m to 12 m infrared quantum detector using mercury cadmium telluride. Anodization, phosphorus implantation, and the graded band gap concept were approaches considered for backside formation. Variable thickness diodes were fabricated with a back surface anodic oxide to investigate the effect of this surface preparation on the diffusion limited zero bias impedance. A modeling technique was refined to thoroughly model diode characteristics. Values for the surface recombination velocity in the depletion region were obtained. These values were improved by implementing better surface damage removal techniques.

Marciniec, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Master timing system measurements

The test results indicate that the system performs within the specifications established. The overall system appears to be well designed and built to a good commercial grade. The triple redundant time code generators, whose outputs are majority voted, performed adequately as far as could be determined on an operational situation.

Endsley, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Flat-plate solar array project. Task 1: Silicon material. Investigation of the hydrochlorination of SiC14

A two inch diameter stainless steel reactor was designed and built to operate at pressures up to 500 psig for the experimental studies on the hydrochlorination of SiCl4 and metallurgical grade (m.g.) silicon metal to SiHCl3. In order to clearly see the effect of pressure, the experiments were carried out at low reactor pressures of 73 psig and 150 psig, respectively. A large pressure effect on the hydrochlorination reaction was observed between the results of the low pressure experiments and the results of the high pressure experiments. In general, higher pressure produces a higher conversion of SiHCl3, but at a lower reaction rate. The effect of temperature on the reaction rate was studied at 73 psig. Higher reaction temperature gave a higher conversion and a higher reaction rate. Samples of the materials used to construct the hydrochlorination reactor were prepared for corrosion tests.

Mui, J. Y. P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Ultrasonic scanning system for imaging flaw growth in composites

A system for measuring and visually representing damage in composite specimens while they are being loaded was demonstrated. It uses a hobbiest grade microcomputer system to control data taking and image processing. The system scans operator selected regions of the specimen while it is under load in a tensile test machine and measures internal damage by the attenuation of a 2.5 MHz ultrasonic beam passed through the specimen. The microcomputer dynamically controls the position of ultrasonic transducers mounted on a two axis motor driven carriage. As many as 65,536 samples can be taken and filed on a floppy disk system in less than four minutes.

Kiraly, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Photogeologic mapping in central southwest Bahia, using LANDSAT-1 multispectral images

The interpretation of LANDSAT multispectral imagery for geologic mapping of central southwest Bahia, Brazil is described. Surface features such as drainage, topography, vegetation and land use are identified. The area is composed of low grade Precambrian rocks covered by Mezozoic and Cenozoic sediments. The principal mineral prospects of economic value are fluorite and calcareous rocks. Gold, calcite, rock crystal, copper, potassium nitrate and alumina were also identified.

Dejesusparada, N.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Cardiovascular adaptations in weightlessness: The influence of in-flight exercise programs on the cardiovascular adjustments during weightlessness and upon returning to Earth

The effect of in-flight exercise programs on astronauts' cardiovascular adjustments during spaceflight weightlessness and upon return to Earth was studied. Physiological changes in muscle strength and volume, cardiovascular responses during the application of lower body negative pressure, and metabolic activities during pre-flight and flight tests were made on Skylab crewmembers. The successful completion of the Skylab missions showed that man can perform submaximal and maximal aerobic exercise in the weightless enviroment without detrimental trends in any of the physiologic data. Exercise tolerance during flight was unaffected. It was only after return to Earth that a tolerance decrement was noted. The rapid postflight recovery of orthostatic and exercise tolerance following two of the three Skylab missions appeared to be directly related to total in-flight exercise as well as to the graded, regular program of exercise performed during the postflight debriefing period.

Bennett, C. H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An investigation of MAGSAT and complementary data emphasizing precambrian shields and adjacent areas of West Africa and South America

Several possible causes for the east-west striping of the MAGSAT anomaly maps are listed and discussed including: (1) the inadequacy of the field model used for core-crustal separation of geomagnetic anomalies; (2) external field noise remaining in the available maps; (3) east-west trends of crustal uplift and depression; (4) east-west trends to convection patterns in the mantle; (5) bands of crustal materials of similar metamorphic grade; (6) variations in the depth of the Curie isotherm; and (7) the data processing techniques used to overcome the absence of tie lines and orbital path of MAGSAT.

Hastings, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Material and processing needs for silicon solar cells in space

The technical concerns of NASA in the area of space grade solar cells are summarized. Solar power needs are projected through 1987. The degradation of solar cell performance due to the effects of radiation on impurities and crystal defects and the improved performance of float zone silicon are illustrated. The reduction of oxygen and carbon in float zone silicon allows for much faster low temperature annealing of the defects. The effects of improved crystal purity on cell performance are summarized.

Brandhorst, H. W., Jr.↗