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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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The parameters and requirements for growing single crystals of relatively high melting point metals in a zero gravity environment are studied. The crystal growth of metals such as silver, copper, gold, and alloys with a melting point between 900-1100 C is examined.
The growth of single crystals of relatively high melting point metals such as silver, copper, gold, and their alloys was investigated. The purpose was to develop background information necessary to support a space flight experiment and to generate ground based data for comparison. The ground based data, when compared to the data from space grown crystals, are intended to identify any effects which zero-gravity might have on the basic process of single crystal growth of these metals. The ultimate purposes of the complete investigation are to: (1) determine specific metals and alloys to be investigated; (2) grow single metal crystals in a terrestrial laboratory; (3) determine crystal characteristics, properties, and growth parameters that will be effected by zero-gravity; (4) evaluate terrestrially grown crystals; (5) grow single metal crystals in a space laboratory such as Skylab; (6) evaluate the space grown crystals; (7) compare for zero-gravity effects of crystal characteristics, properties, and parameters; and (8) make a recommendation as to production of these crystals as a routine space manufacturing proceses.
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Report describes growth of silver-alloy crystals under widely varying conditions of growth rate, temperature gradient, and magnetic field. Role of gravitation and convection on crystal substructure is analyzed, as well as influence of magnetic fields applied during crystallization.
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An investigation was conducted to determine softening and hardening behavior in 19 binary iron-alloy systems. Microhardness tests were conducted at four temperatures in the range 77 to 411 K. Alloy softening was exhibited by 17 of the 19 alloy systems. Alloy softening observed in 15 of the alloy systems was attributed to an intrinsic mechanism, believed to be lowering of the Peierls (lattice friction) stress. Softening and hardening rates could be correlated with the atomic radius ratio of solute to iron. Softening observed in two other systems was attributed to an extrinsic mechanism, believed to be associated with scavenging of interstitial impurities.
An experimental study was conducted to determine whether alloy softening in Fe alloys is dependent on electron concentration and to provide a direct comparison of alloy softening and hardening in several binary Fe alloy systems having the same processing history. Alloy additions to Fe included the elements in the Periods 4-6 and the Groups IV-VIII with the exception of technetium. A total of 19 alloy systems was investigated, and hardness testing was the primary means of evaluation. Testing was carried out at four temperatures over a homologous temperature range of 0.043-0.227 times the absolute melting temperature of unalloyed Fe. Major conclusions are that the atomic radius ratio of solute-to-Fe is the key factor in controlling low-temperature hardness of the binary Fe alloys and that alloy softening rates at 77 K and alloy hardening rates at 411 K are correlated with this atomic radius ratio for 15 of the binary alloy systems. Mechanisms of alloy softening and hardening are proposed.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Dense high-purity silicon aluminum oxynitride was prepared by reactive hot-pressing of an Si3N4-Al2O3-SiO2 mixture. The formation of a single-phase material was found to be critically dependent on the Si3N4 powder in the starting mixture. It is suggested that evolution of a chlorine- and nitrogen-containing species may enhance the reactivity of Si3N4 in this reaction. Densities of O prime sialons are very similar to that of Si2N2O, the widely quoted value in the ceramics literature of 3.1 g/cu cm for the density of Si2N2O being incorrect.
The incorporation of homovalent ions, e.g., I(-) in AgBr, leads to a substantial increase in ionic conductivity sigma. The charge compensation concept does not explain the enhancement. AgBr + 30 mol. % AgI exhibits sigma approximately 7/omega/cm at 380 C, which is approximately 170% larger than that of alpha-AgI, the best known superionic conductor, at its melting point. The purely elastic displacement caused by the foreign ion is suggested to be the origin of such a unique behavior. Furthermore, AgI-AgBr two-phase systems display sigma approximately 10 to the 3rd times higher than predicted by the classical theories.
The feasibility and desirability of space growth of bulk IR semiconductor crystals for use as substrates for epitaxial IR detector material were researched. A III-V ternary compound (GaInSb) and a II-VI binary compound were considered. Vapor epitaxy and quaternary epitaxy techniques were found to be sufficient to permit the use of ground based binary III-V crystals for all major device applications. Float zoning of CdTe was found to be a potentially successful approach to obtaining high quality substrate material, but further experiments were required.
Deviations from compositions anticipated by the thermal equilibrium phase diagram have been observed in Bridgman-grown crystals of Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Te, in the first to freeze region of the boule. A set of experiments were conducted to determine the extent of thermal supercooling of Pb(1-x)Sn(x)Te in a Bridgman-like configuration. The results of the compositional profiles and the supercooling measurements are consistent with a diffusionless transformation occurring at the onset of solidification, and the length of uncontrolled growth is inversely related to the temperature gradient of the furnace.
Standards were prepared for calibrating microanalyses of dissolved oxygen in unalloyed alpha-Ti and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo. Foils of both of these materials were homogenized for 120 hours in vacuum at 871 C following short exposures to the ambient atmosphere at 854 C that had partially oxidized the foils. The variation of Knoop microhardness with oxygen content was calibrated for both materials using 15-g and 5-g indentor loads. The unit-cell lattice parameters were calibrated for the unalloyed alpha-Ti. Example analyses demonstrate the usefulness of these calibrations and support an explanation of an anomaly in the lattice parameter variation. The results of the calibrations have been tabulated and summarized using predictive equations.
Based on the thermophysical properties of Hg sub 1-x Cd sub x Te alloys, the reasons are discussed for the failure of conventional Bridgman-Stockbarger growth methods to produce high quality homogeneous crystals in the presence of Earth's gravity. The deleterious effects are considered which arise from the dependence of the thermophysical properties on temperature and composition and from the large amount of heat carried by the fused silica ampules. An improved growth method, developed to optimize heat flow conditions, is described and experimental results are presented. The problems associated with growth in a gravitational environment are discussed. The anticipated advantages of growth in microgravity are given and the implications of the requirements for spaceflight experiments are summarized.
Based on the thermophysical properties of Hg sub 1-x Cd sub x Te alloys, the reasons are discussed for the failure of conventional Bridgman-Stockbarger growth methods to produce high quality homogeneous crystals in the presence of Earth's gravity. The deleterious effects are considered which arise from the dependence of the thermophysical properties on temperature and composition and from the large amount of heat carried by the fused silica ampules. An improved growth method, developed to optimize heat flow conditions, is described and experimental results are presented. The problems associated with growth in a gravitational environment are discussed. The anticipated advantages of growth in microgravity are given and the implications of the requirements for spaceflight experiments are summarized.
Based on the thermophysical properties of Hg sub 1-x Cd sub x Te alloys, the reasons are discussed for the failure of conventional Bridgman-Stockbarger growth methods to produce high quality homogeneous crystals in the prescence of Earth's gravity. The deleterious effects are considered which arise from the dependence of the thermophysical properties on temperature and composition and from the large amount of heat carried by the fused silica ampules. An improved growth method, developed to optimize heat flow conditions, is described and experimental results are presented. The problems associated with growth in a gravitational environment are discussed. The anticipated advantages of growth in microgravity are given and the implications of the requirements for spaceflight experiments are summarized.