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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 1,045 records · Page 58

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NASA NTRS1982

Graphite fiber surface treatment to improve impact strength and fracture resistance in subsequent composites

Graphite (or carbon) fiber composite impact strength improvement was attempted by modifying the fiber surface. Elastomeric particles were made into lattices and deposited ionically on surface treated graphite fiber in an attempt to prepare a surface containing discrete rubber particles. With hard, nonelastomeric polystyrene discrete particle coverage was achieved. All the elastomeric containing lattices resulted in elastomer flow and filament agglomeration during drying.

Paul, J. T., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Studies with sample conductivity, insertion rates, and particle deflection in a continuous flow electrophoresis system

The continuous flow electrophoresis system makes electrophoresis possible in a free-flowing film of aqueous electrolyte medium. The sample continuously enters the electrolyte at the top of the chamber and is subjected to the action of a lateral dc field. This divides the sample into fractions since each component has a distinctive electrophoretic mobility. Tests were made using monodisperse polystyrene latex microspheres to determine optimum sample conductivity, insertion rates and optimum electric field applications as baseline data for future STS flight experiments. Optimum sample flow rates for the selected samples were determined to be approximately 26 micro-liters/min. Experiments with samples in deionized water yielded best results and voltages in the 20 V/cm to 30 V/cm range were optimum. Deflections of formaldehyde fixed turkey and bovine erythrocytes were determined using the continuous flow electrophoresis system. The effects of particle interactions on sample resolution and migration in the chamber was also evaluated.

Williams, G., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1981

High frequency scattering by a thin dielectric slab

The geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) is applied to the problem of a source in the presence of a three-dimensional thin dielectric slab. It is assumed that the reflection and transmission properties of the slab are known, and the slab is not lossy and/or multilayered. Two-dimensional thin dielectric layer scattering is analyzed when diffraction emanates from a single point, the source is not near the slab, and random energy approaching tangentially due to transmission is negligible. Coefficients are obtained for the scattering and the GTD solution is extended to the three dimensional case after development of a ray fixed coordinate system. The results are applied to a half wavelength dipole mounted above a square polystyrene covered ground plane.

Burnside, W. D.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Injection molding of silicon carbide capable of being sintered without pressure

The most suitable SiC mass for injection molding of SiC articles (for subsequent pressureless sintering) consisted of beta SiC 84, a wax mixture 8, and polyethylene or polystyrene 8 parts. The most effective method for adding the binders was by dissolving them in a solvent and subsequent evaporation. The sequence of component addition was significant, and all parameters were optimized together rather than individually.

Muller-Zell, A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR): A materials processing space shuttle mid-deck payload

The monodisperse latex reactor experiment has flown five times on the space shuttle, with three more flights currently planned. The objectives of this project is to manufacture, in the microgravity environment of space, large particle-size monodisperse polystyrene latexes in particle sizes larger and more uniform than can be manufactured on Earth. Historically it has been extremely difficult, if not impossible to manufacture in quantity very high quality monodisperse latexes on Earth in particle sizes much above several micrometers in diameter due to buoyancy and sedimentation problems during the polymerization reaction. However the MLR project has succeeded in manufacturing in microgravity monodisperse latex particles as large as 30 micrometers in diameter with a standard deviation of 1.4 percent. It is expected that 100 micrometer particles will have been produced by the completion of the the three remaining flights. These tiny, highly uniform latex microspheres have become the first material to be commercially marketed that was manufactured in space.

Kornfeld, D. M.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Development of a new laser Doppler velocimeter for the Ames High Reynolds Channel No. 2

A new two-channel laser Doppler velocimeter developed for the Ames High Reynolds Channel No. 2 is described. Design features required for the satisfactory operation of the optical system in the channel environment are discussed. Fiber optics are used to transmit the megahertz Doppler signal to the photodetectors located outside the channel pressure vessel, and provision is made to isolate the optical system from pressure and thermal strain effects. Computer-controlled scanning mirrors are used to position the laser beams in the channel flow. Techniques used to seed the flow with 0.5-micron-diam polystyrene spheres avoiding deposition on the test-section windows and porous boundary-layer removal panels are described. Preliminary results are presented with a discussion of several of the factors affecting accuracy.

Seegmiller, H. L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Predictions of nucleation theory applied to Ehrenfest thermodynamic transitions

A modified nucleation theory is used to determine a critical nucleus size and a critical activation-energy barrier for second-order Ehrenfest thermodynamic transitions as functions of the degree of undercooling, the interfacial energy, the heat-capacity difference, the specific volume of the transformed phase, and the equilibrium transition temperature. The customary approximations of nucleation theory are avoided by expanding the Gibbs free energy in a Maclaurin series and applying analytical thermodynamic expressions to evaluate the expansion coefficients. Nonlinear correction terms for first-order-transition calculations are derived, and numerical results are presented graphically for water and polystyrene as examples of first-order and quasi-second-order transitions, respectively.

Barker, R. E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Electrophoresis technology

A new high resolution apparatus designed for space was built as a laboratory prototype. Using a moving wall with a low zeta potential coating, the major sources of flow distortion for an electrophoretic sample stream are removed. Highly resolved fractions, however, will only be produced in space because of the sensitivity of this chamber to buoyancy-induced convection in the laboratory. The second and third flights of the McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Corporation continuous flow electrophoresis system carried samples developed at MSFC intended to evaluate the broad capabilities of free flow electrophoresis in a reduced gravity environment. Biological model materials, hemoglobin and polystyrene latex microspheres, were selected because of their past use as electrophoresis standards and as visible markers for fluid flow due to electroosmosis, spacecraft acceleration or other factors. The dependence of the separation resolution on the properties of the sample and its suspension solution was assessed.

Snyder, R. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

A study of the applicability of nucleation theory to quasi-thermodynamic transitions of second and higher Ehrenfest-order

The applicability of classical nucleation theory to second (and higher) order thermodynamic transitions in the Ehrenfest sense has been investigated and expressions have been derived upon which the qualitative and quantitative success of the basic approach must ultimately depend. The expressions describe the effect of temperature undercooling, hydrostatic pressure, and tensile stress upon the critical parameters, the critical nucleus size, and critical free energy barrier, for nucleation in a thermodynamic transition of any general order. These expressions are then specialized for the case of first and second order transitions. The expressions for the case of undercooling are then used in conjunction with literature data to estimate values for the critical quantities in a system undergoing a pseudo-second order transition (the glass transition in polystyrene). Methods of estimating the interfacial energy gamma in systems undergoing a first and second order transition are also discussed.

Barker, R. E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Processing Science and Technology

The heat capacity at constant pressure,Cp, of poly-p-xylylene (PPX) was measured from 220 to 625 degrees K using differential scanning calorimetry. The heat capacities at constant volume, Cv, of both PPX and its isomer polystyrene (PS were interpreted using literature data on full normal mode calculations for PS and estimates from low molecular weight analogues for PPX for the 39 group vibrations. Nine skeletal vibrations were used with theta sub 1 and theta sub 3 temperatures of 534.5 degrees K and 43.1 degrees K for PS. It was also possible to calculate a heat capacity contribution of a phenylene group within a polymer chain. Single 48-vibration theta sub 1 temperatures of 3230 degrees K for PS and 2960 degrees K for PPX are sufficient to describe Cv above 220 degrees K. Below 140 deg K, PS heat capacity shows deviations from the Tarasov treatment.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1985

Aerosol seeding systems for the NSWC wind tunnels

Four types of laskin nozzles which are used to generate the primary aerosol mist are illustrated. This mist may be used directly as laser doppler velocimeters (LDV) particles. However, in general, a wide range of particle size exists at this stage and requires the use of some type of mono-dispersion refinement technique. These nozzles rely on the shearing action of high speed air near a column of seeding liquid. Typically, olive oil or dioctyl phthalate (DOP) is used, but within the past year solid polystyrene particles in an alcohol suspension have been used with great success. Air, at a typical pressure of five psig, is supplied to the top of the nozzle which is merely a hollow tube. This air issues radially from one or more small jets located near the collar close to the bottom of the tube. When the collar is submerged in the seeding liquid, the hollow columns located in the collar become filled with liquid. The air from the jet shears the liquid into the fine mist.

Yanta, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Development of a new laser Doppler velocimeter for the Ames High Reynolds Channel No. II

Seegmiller, H. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Direct observation of the excited-state proton transfer and decay kinetics of internally hydrogen-bonded photostabilizers in copolymer films

The excited-state dynamics of a 2-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazole (HPB) photostabilizer copolymerized with polystyrene are reported. HPB fluorescence from these copolymer films is observed at approximately 630 nm, characteristic of the proton-transferred excited state of HPB, and it has a risetime of less than 10 ps and a decay time of 28 + or - 4 ps at room temperature. Measurement of the relative fluorescence quantum yield as a function of temperature gives the activation energy for nonradiative decay of this state to be E/hc = 259 + or 25/cm.

Oconnor, D. B.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Comet coma sample return

The feasibility of capturing comet dust with polymer foam, dense gas, and fiber collectors is discussed. Polystyrene foams seem suitable. For volatile capture, chemically active getters are suggested. A scenario for a low speed flyby sample return mission is outlined.

Tsou, P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Interfacial adhesion of carbon fibers

Relative adhesion strengths between AS4, AS1, and XAS carbon fibers and thermoplastic polymers were determined using the embedded single filament test. Polymers studied included polycarbonate, polyphenylene oxide, polyetherimide, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide blends with polystyrene, and polycarbonate blends with a polycarbonate polysiloxane block copolymer. Fiber surface treatments and sizings improved adhesion somewhat, but adhesion remained well below levels obtained with epoxy matrices. An explanation for the differences between the Hercules and Grafil fibers was sought using X ray photon spectroscopy, wetting, scanning electron microscopy and thermal desorption analysis.

Bascom, Willard D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Advances in solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell technology with low-platinum-loading electrodes

The Gemini Space program demonstrated the first major application of fuel cell systems. Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells were used as auxiliary power sources in the spacecraft. There has been considerable progress in this technology since then, particularly with the substitution of Nafion for the polystyrene sulfonate membrane as the electrolyte. Until recently the performance was good only with high platinum loading (4 mg/sq cm) electrodes. Methods are presented to advance the technology by (1) use of low platinum loading (0.35 mg/sq cm) electrodes; (2) optimization of anode/membrane/cathode interfaces by hot pressing; (3) pressurization of reactant gases, which is most important when air is used as cathodic reactant; and (4) adequate humidification of reactant gases to overcome the water management problem. The high performance of the fuel cell with the low loading of platinum appears to be due to the extension of the three dimensional reaction zone by introduction of a proton conductor, Nafion. This was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry.

Srinivasan, Supramaniam↗

NASA NTRS1986

Development and testing of a space-flight dilatometer/reactor

A stainless-steel piston cylinder dilatometer (volume about 100 cu cm), designed for use in microgravity, was tested and modified for the purpose of obtaining the polymerization kinetics of monodisperse polystyrene latexes, as well as the latexes themselves. A low-speed, oscillatory agitation (10 rpm, 30 deg of arc/per cycle) and redesigned stir paddle were selected for the low shear requirements of the microgravity experiments. Conversion histories accurate to within 2 percent were obtained after apparatus modification and procedural changes were implemented.

Sudol, E. D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Electrodeposition of metals and metal/cermet composites in low gravity

Electrodeposition experiments were carried out on the bench and a KC-135 aircraft at 0.01 g in anticipation of microgravity flights on NASA's Space Transportation System Shuttle. Experimental results obtained by interferometry compare concentration gradients as a function of time in the vicinity of a reducing electrode (cathode) for Cu(+2) and Co(+2) electrodeposition cells. No difference was found between bench and 0.01 g produced gradients for a .1M CuSO4 cell, but a significant difference was noted between the gradients in a 1M CoSO4 cell even though the bench cells were operated in a nonconvecting shielded (cathode over anode) mode. The gradient for Co(+2) depletion produced at 0.01 g was greater and the entire layer was thicker than found on the bench. Neutral buoyancy/matched density codeposition experiments were performed on the bench in an attempt to physically duplicate the results of metal/cermet codepositions in microgravity. Polystyrene spheres with average diameter 11.8 microns and density approximately matching that of 1M CoSO4 were utilized to emulate nonsedimenting cermets in microgravity. The cells were operated in a shielded convectionless mode. Comparison with literature data on codeposition with stirred cells indicate significant improvement in volume percent neutral occluded in the depositing metal matrix. A multicell electrodeposition flight apparatus that has been designed, constructed and is undergoing testing is discussed.

Riley, Clyde↗