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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Advanced Fuel Cycle Cost Basis Report: Module D1-4 and Module D1-5 Ceramic Pelletized Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) Fuel Fabrication Ceramic Vibrocompacted Fuel Fabrication

This is a cost module that is part of the Advanced Fuel Cycle -- Cost Basis Report. Module D1-4: Nature of this module update (Rev 1) from previous advanced fuel cycle cost basis reports (AFCCBRs): new life cycle cost data on U,Pu SFR mixed oxide (MOX) fuels is derived from the Nonproliferation Assessment Systems Analysis Program (NASAP) conducted in the late 1970s. Highassay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) ceramic fuel is also discussed in more detail compared to earlier AFC-CBRs, since some advanced SFR concepts currently under development will require this HALEU fuel type for startup. Module D1-5: Nature of this FY-21 module update from previous AFC-CBRs: this module includes a few new references and a somewhat expanded discussion of vibrocompaction fuel fabrication technology. The WIT values for VIPAC are pegged directly to those for conventional LWR and SFR pelletized U,Pu MOX (note that this module now includes VIPAC MOX fuel for LWRs in addition to SFRs). Based on information from Russia, where VIPAC has been studied extensively, the unit costs are expressed as a percentage of those in the new updated Module D1-2 (pelletized U,Pu MOX) and new updated Module D1-4 (pelletized U,Pu MOX) for large NOAK fabrication facilities of the same production capacity. Since both ceramic pelletized MOX Modules D1-2 and D1-4 benefitted from analysis of 1970s NASAP data, by extension this Module D1-5 also benefits.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS2015

A Fully Nonmetallic Gas Turbine Engine Enabled by Additive Manufacturing of Ceramic Composites: Additive Manufacturing and Characterization of Ceramic Composites - Part III

This publication is the third part of a three part report of the project entitled "A Fully Nonmetallic Gas Turbine Engine Enabled by Additive Manufacturing" funded by NASA Aeronautics Research Institute (NARI). The objective of this project was to conduct additive manufacturing to produce ceramic matrix composite materials and aircraft engine components by the binder jet process. Different SiC powders with median sizes ranging from 9.3 to 53.0 microns were investigated solely and in powder blends in order to maximize powder packing. Various infiltration approaches were investigated to include polycarbosilane (SMP-10), phenolic, and liquid silicon. Single infiltrations of SMP-10 and phenolic only slightly filled in the interior. When the SMP-10 was loaded with sub-micron sized SiC powders, the infiltrant gave a much better result of filling in the interior. Silicon carbide fibers were added to the powder bed to make ceramic matrix composite materials. Microscopy showed that the fibers were well distributed with no preferred orientation on the horizontal plane and fibers in the vertical plane were at angles as much as 45deg. Secondary infiltration steps were necessary to further densify the material. Two to three extra infiltration steps of SMP-10 increased the density by 0.20 to 0.55 g/cc. However, the highest densities achieved were 2.10 to 2.15 g/cc. Mechanical tests consisting of 4 point bend tests were conducted. Samples from the two CMC panels had higher strengths and strains to failure than the samples from the two nonfiber reinforced panels. The highest strengths were from Set N with 65 vol% fiber loading which had an average strength of 66 MPa. Analysis of the fracture surfaces did not reveal pullout of the reinforcing fibers. Blunt fiber failure suggested that there was not composite behavior. The binder jet additive manufacturing method was used to also demonstrate the fabrication of turbine engine vane components of two different designs and sizes. The binder jet method has benefits over the conventional manufacturing of CMCs in that prototype and production parts can be fabricated quickly and economically with no tooling and extensive hand layup.

Additive Manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2014

A fast grain-growth mechanism revealed in nanocrystalline ceramic oxides

Grain growth issues in nanocrystalline ceramic oxides render their highly attractive properties practically unusable due to limited understanding of the underlying grain-growth mechanisms. Two conventional “slow” grain-growth mechanisms, i.e. curvature driven and grain-rotation driven, are shown to be thermally active, and the discovery of a “fast” disorder-driven mechanism is revealed using molecular dynamics simulation on nanocrystalline ceria, in conjunction with experimental observations. We show that this disorder mechanism drives the unexpected fast grain growth observed experimentally during synthesis and irradiation conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nanoscale self-healing mechanisms in shape memory ceramics

Abstract Shape memory ceramics, such as yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (YSTZ), offer unique properties including ultra-high operating temperatures and high resistance to oxidation. However, they are susceptible to formation of defects during manufacturing and/or by mechanical deformation. To completely take advantage of their shape memory properties, it is necessary to fully understand the nano-structural evolution of defects under external stimuli. In this study, defect evolution behaviors in YSTZ nanopillars are investigated by atomistic simulations. Two characteristic orientations of $$\left[ {01\bar 1} \right]$$ 01 1 ¯ and [001] are selected to represent the dominant deformation mechanisms of phase transformation and dislocation migration, respectively. Volume expansion associated with the tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation is observed to promote healing of crack and void. Atom stress analyses reveal stress concentrations along the newly formed monoclinic phase bands. A critical crack width is identified, less than which the crack can be fully closed in compression. For [001]-oriented YSTZ nanopillars, dislocation migration leads to formations of an amorphous phase, which also assist the crack and void closure process. The revealed crack/void healing mechanisms may provide a path for mitigating internal defects that influences the mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of shape memory ceramics.

Zhang, Ning (ORCID:0000000240661837)↗
DOE OSTI2021

Inverted Geometry Ceramic Insulators in High Voltage DC Electron Guns for Accelerators

A direct current (dc) high voltage photo-emission electron gun operating at 130 kV is utilized at the Jefferson Lab (JLab) Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility to generate spin-polarized electrons for nuclear physics experiments. Over the past decade, JLab has tested and implemented inverted-geometry ceramic insulators in photoguns, connecting the cathode electrode in vacuum to the high voltage power supply using commercial high voltage cables. This contribution reports on tests performed up to 375 kV dc, implementation of inverted insulators in a 300 kV dc photogun generating magnetized electron beams, and describes plans to develop a reliable insulator-cable connector for applying 500 kV dc to a future polarized beam photogun operating reliably and without field emission at 350 kV.

Hernandez-Garcia, C.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Crystalline Ceramic Waste Forms: Comparison Of Reference Process For Ceramic Waste Form Fabrication

The research conducted in this work package is aimed at taking advantage of the long term thermodynamic stability of crystalline ceramics to create more durable waste forms (as compared to high level waste glass) in order to reduce the reliance on engineered and natural barrier systems. Durable ceramic waste forms that incorporate a wide range of radionuclides have the potential to broaden the available disposal options and to lower the storage and disposal costs associated with advanced fuel cycles. Assemblages of several titanate phases have been successfully demonstrated to incorporate radioactive waste elements, and the multiphase nature of these materials allows them to accommodate variation in the waste composition. Recent work has shown that they can be produced from a melting and crystallization process. The objective of this report is to explore the phase formation and microstructural differences between lab scale melt processing in varying gas environments with alternative densification processes such as Hot Pressing (HP) and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). The waste stream used as the basis for the development and testing is a simulant derived from a combination of the projected Cs/Sr separated stream, the Trivalent Actinide - Lanthanide Separation by Phosphorous reagent Extraction from Aqueous Komplexes (TALSPEAK) waste stream consisting of lanthanide fission products, the transition metal fission product waste stream resulting from the transuranic extraction (TRUEX) process, and a high molybdenum concentration with relatively low noble metal concentrations. Melt processing as well as solid state sintering routes SPS and HP demonstrated the formation of the targeted phases; however differences in microstructure and elemental partitioning were observed. In SPS and HP samples, hollandite, pervoskite/pyrochlore, zirconolite, metallic alloy and TiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 were observed distributed in a network of fine grains with small residual pores. The titanate phases that incorporate M +3 rare earth elements were observed to be distinct phases (ex. Nd 2 Ti 2 O 7 with less degree of substitution as compared to the more homogeneous melt processed samples where a high degree of substitution and variation of composition within grains was observed. Liquid phase sintering was enhanced in reducing gas environments and resulted in large (10-200 microns) irregular shaped grains along with large voids associated with the melt process; SPS and HP samples exhibited finer grain size with smaller voids. Metallic alloys were observed in the bulk of the sample for SPS and HP samples, but were found at the bottom of the crucible in melt processed trials. These results indicate that for a first melter trial, the targeted phases can be formed in air by utilizing Ti/TiO 2 additives which aid phase formation and improve the electrical conductivity. Ultimately, a melter run in reducing gas environments would be beneficial to study differences in phase formation and elemental partitioning.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

Cold Crucible Induction Melter (CCIM) Testing on Glass Ceramic and Ceramic Waste Forms

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Fuel Cycle Research and Development (FCR&D) program is developing advanced high level waste (HLW) forms for the immobilization of the long-lived radionuclides resulting from future potential reprocessing of the used nuclear fuel from commercial reactors. One of the program’s goals is to have orders of magnitude improvements in durability (compared to the reference borosilicate glass waste form for HLW), to facilitate lower costs including less expensive and complex processing, to lower storage costs and to provide for final disposal of the waste in a deep geological repository. Both glass ceramic and ceramic waste forms are being developed and evaluated as possible improvements to borosilicate glass to achieve these objectives.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS1989

Dynamic crack arrest in ceramics and ceramic composites

The results of past dynamic crack arrest experiments involving structural ceramics and ceramic composites are reviewed and analyzed. The lack of dynamic crack arrest in very brittle materials is discussed and contrasted with dynamic crack arrest in somewhat brittle metallic and polymeric materials. Numerical analyses show that the lack of crack arrest is due to reduced dynamic fracture resistance of the material and is not due to the kinetic energy.

Kobayashi, A. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Ceramics and ceramic matrix composites - Aerospace potential and status

Thermostructural ceramics and ceramic-matrix composites are attractive in numerous aerospace applications; the noncatastrophic fracture behavior and flaw-insensitivity of continuous fiber-reinforced CMCs renders them especially desirable. The present development status evaluation notes that, for most highly-loaded high-temperature applications, the requisite fiber-technology base is at present insufficient. In addition to materials processing techniques, the life prediction and NDE methods are immature and require a projection of 15-20 years for the maturity of CMC turbine rotors. More lightly loaded, moderate temperature aircraft engine applications are approaching maturity.

Levine, Stanley R.↗