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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Crystallography of decahedral and icosahedral particles. I - Geometry of twinning

The crystal structure of the tetrahedral twins in multiply-twinned particles with decahedral and icosahedral point group symmetries has been examined and correlated with the face-centered cubic structure. Details on the crystal structure as well as the geometrical relationships among twins in each particle are presented. These crystallographic facts serve as a basis for the interpretation of small particle images obtained with advanced methods of transmission electron microscopy.

Yang, C. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Niobium hyperfine structure in crystal calcium tungstate

A study of the niobium hyperfine structure in single crystal calcium tungstate was made by the combination of the technique of electron paramagnetic resonance and electron nuclear double resonance (EPR/ENDOR). The microwave frequency was about 9.4 GHz and the radio frequency from 20MHz to 70 MHz. The rare earth ions Nd(3+), U(3+), or Tm(3+) were added as the charge compensator for Nb(5+). To create niobium paramagnetic centers, the sample was irradiated at 77 deg K with a 10 thousand curie Co-60 gamma source for 1 to 2 hours at a dose rate of 200 K rads per hour and then transferred quickly into the cavity. In a general direction of magnetic field, the spectra showed 4 sets of 10 main lines corresponding to 4 nonequivalent sites of niobium with I = 9/2. These 4 sets of lines coalesced into 2 sets of 10 in the ab-plane and into a single set of 10 along the c-axis. This symmetry suggested that the tungsten ions are substituted by the niobium ions in the crystal.

Tseng, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Data Processing and Experimental Design for Micrometeorite Impacts in Small Bodies

Comets and asteroids have been altered from their original "pristine" state by impacts occurring throughout their 4.5 billion year lives: [1]. Proof of shock deformation has been detected in the crystal structure of several Stardust samples from Comet Wild 2 [2, 3]. Analyses indicated that the planar dislocations in the crystal structure of the minerals had been imparted by impacts sustained during their lives, and not due to the aerogel capture process. Distortions to crystal structure also affect the ideal absorption spectra in the infrared, and [4], thus providing indirect evidence of its impact history and a means of remotely investigating the impact history of small bodies through comparing laboratory spectra with spectra observed by telescopes or spacecraft. -The effects of impacts propagating shock waves through minerals were investigated through laboratory impact experiments. Utilizing NASA Johnson Space Center's Experimental Impact Laboratory, projectiles were fired from the vertical gun at velocities ranging from 2.0 to 2.8 km/sec, projected impact velocities between Kuiper Belt Objects. Two types of projectiles were used, including spherical alumina ceramic, whose density mimics that of rock, and cylinders made from the same material that they impacted. The target materials chosen for testing included: OLIVINES forsterite (Mg2SiO4) and fayalite, Fe2SiO4); PYROXENES enstatite (Mg2Si2O6) and diopside (MgCaSi2O6); and CARBONATES magnesite (MgCO3) and siderite (FeCO3). Targets were impacted at either 25 C or cooled to -20 C to examine the effects of temperature, if any, on lattice distortions during the shock propagation. As comets and asteroids can undergo a wide range of temperatures in their orbital lifetimes, the effect of temperature on the equation of state of minerals being shocked needs to be examined for interpreting the results of these experiments. The porosity of the target mineral is varied by either grinding it into a powder/granular texture or as whole mineral rocks to investigate the differences in shock propagation when voids are present. By varying velocity, ambient temperature, and porosity, we can investigate different variables affecting impacts in the solar system. -Data indicates that there is a non-linear relationship between peak shock pressure and the variation in infrared spectral absorbances by the distorted crystal structure. The maximum variability occurs around 37 GPa in enstatite and forsterite. The particle size distribution of the impacted material similarly changes with velocity/peak shock pressure. -The experiments described above are designed to measure the near- to mid-IR effects from these changes to the mineral structure. See Lederer et al., this meeting for additional experimental results.

Jensen, E.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Structural evolution, electrochemical kinetic properties, and stability of A-site doped perovskite Sr(1-x)Yb(x)CoO(3-δ)

Mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) perovskite SrCoO(3-δ) is a widely studied (electro)catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and possesses different crystal structures at different temperatures. These temperature dependent phase transitions significantly impact the ordering of oxygen vacancies and electrochemical kinetic properties as well as the reliability of the related devices. Some of the crystal structures formed, e.g. hexagonal phases, turn out to be almost impermeable to oxygen gas. Therefore, it is important to stabilize the crystal structure of SrCoO(3-δ) that favors the ORR over a wide temperature range. Herein, the partial substitution of the A-site Sr with Yb is systematically studied, including synthesis, characterization and analysis of structural evolution, electrochemical kinetic properties, thermal stability, and stability in a CO2-containing atmosphere. The results indicate that Sr(0.90)Yb(0.10)CoO(3-δ) is able to stabilize the tetragonal crystal structure with less ordered oxygen vacancies, leading to polarization resistances of 0.051, 0.115 and 0.272 U sq.cm at 750, 700 and 650 °C, respectively, on symmetrical cells. Sr(0.90)Yb(0.10)CoO(3-δ) demonstrates a very stable surface oxygen vacancy distribution and electronic structure near oxygen vacancies but dissociation of adsorbed oxygen molecules into atomic oxygen is affected by surface Sr segregation, and polarization resistance degradation is mainly induced by surface Sr segregation. Furthermore, Sr(0.90)Yb(0.10)CoO(3-δ) exhibits excellent thermal stability as well as excellent recovery stability and improved polarization performance after a few pure air/CO2-containing air treatment cycles at 700 °C. However, a hysteresis behavior of polarization performance is observed at 650 °C during gas cycling treatment, which may cause long-term degradation of the Sr(0.90)Yb(0.10)CoO(3-δ) electrode. The different polarization behaviors during gas cycling treatment are induced by different sensitivities of the formed surface strontium carbonate and chemisorbed surface oxo-carbonaceous species to different operating temperatures.

electrochemical kinetic↗
NASA NTRS1998

Advanced thermoelectric materials with enhanced crystal lattice structure and methods of preparation

New skutterudite phases including Ru.sub.0.5 Pd.sub.0.5 Sb.sub.3, RuSb.sub.2 Te, and FeSb.sub.2 Te, have been prepared having desirable thermoelectric properties. In addition, a novel thermoelectric device has been prepared using skutterudite phase Fe.sub.0.5 Ni.sub.0.5 Sb.sub.3. The skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure of these semiconductor compounds and their enhanced thermoelectric properties results in semiconductor materials which may be used in the fabrication of thermoelectric elements to substantially improve the efficiency of the resulting thermoelectric device. Semiconductor materials having the desired skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure may be prepared in accordance with the present invention by using powder metallurgy techniques. Measurements of electrical and thermal transport properties of selected semiconductor materials prepared in accordance with the present invention, demonstrated high Hall mobilities and good Seebeck coefficients. These materials have low thermal conductivity and relatively low electrical resistivity, and are good candidates for low temperature thermoelectric applications.

Fleurial, Jean-Pierre↗
NASA NTRS1982

Cauchy integral method for two-dimensional solidification interface shapes

A method is developed to determine the shape of steady state solidification interfaces formed when liquid above its freezing point circulates over a cold surface. The solidification interface, which is at uniform temperature, will form in a shape such that the non-uniform energy convected to it is locally balanced by conduction into the solid. The interface shape is of interest relative to the crystal structure formed during solidification; regulating the crystal structure has application in casting naturally strengthened metallic composites. The results also pertain to phase-change energy storage devices, where the solidified configuration and overall heat transfer are needed. The analysis uses a conformal mapping technique to relate the desired interface coordinates to the components of the temperature gradient at the interface. These components are unknown because the interface shape is unknown. A Cauchy integral formulation provides a second relation involving the components, and a simultaneous solution yields the interface shape.

Siegel, R.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Crystal growth and crystallography

Selected topics that may be of interest for both crystal-structure and crystal-growth communities are overviewed. The growth of protein crystals, along with that of some other compounds, is one of the topics, and recent insights into related phenomena are considered as examples of applications of general principles. The relationship between crystal growth shape and structure is reviewed and an attempt to introduce semiquantitative characterization of binding for proteins is made. The concept of kinks for complex structures is briefly discussed. Even at sufficiently low supersaturations, the fluctuation of steps may not be sufficient to implement the Gibbs-Thomson law if the kink density is low enough. Subsurface ordering of liquids and growth of rough interfaces from melts is discussed. Crystals growing in microgravity from solution should be more perfect if they preferentially trap stress-inducing impurities, thus creating an impurity-depleted zone around themselves. Evidently, such a zone is developed only around the crystals growing in the absence of convection. Under terrestrial conditions, the self-purified depleted zone is destroyed by convection, the crystal traps more impurity and grows stressed. The stress relief causes mosaicity. In systems containing stress-inducing but poorly trapped impurities, the crystals grown in the absence of convection should be worse than those of their terrestrial counterparts.

Review, Tutorial↗
NASA NTRS2001

Structure Orientation in Phthalocyanine Film Growth by Vapor Deposition in Electrical Fields

Films of phthalocyanines were grown by vapor deposition in an electric field on to quartz substrates coated with a very thin layer of gold or indium tin oxide and compared to films grown in the absence of an electric field. A comparison of morphology, nonlinear optical properties, and crystal structure was also made. The films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and FTIR. Films grown in the absence of an electric field had a fiber like morphology and those grown in electric fields having a maximum strength of 4000 V/cm had a dense-columnar structure. The crystal structure of films grown in an electric field was different than those grown in the absence of a field.

Banks, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Double Sided Si(Ge)/Sapphire/III-Nitride Hybrid Structure

One aspect of the present invention is a double sided hybrid crystal structure including a trigonal Sapphire wafer containing a (0001) C-plane and having front and rear sides. The Sapphire wafer is substantially transparent to light in the visible and infrared spectra, and also provides insulation with respect to electromagnetic radio frequency noise. A layer of crystalline Si material having a cubic diamond structure aligned with the cubic <111> direction on the (0001) C-plane and strained as rhombohedron to thereby enable continuous integration of a selected (SiGe) device onto the rear side of the Sapphire wafer. The double sided hybrid crystal structure further includes an integrated III-Nitride crystalline layer on the front side of the Sapphire wafer that enables continuous integration of a selected III-Nitride device on the front side of the Sapphire wafer.

Park, Yeonjoon↗
NASA NTRS2017

Method of Fabricating Double Sided Si(Ge)/Sapphire/III-Nitride Hybrid Structure

One aspect of the present invention is a double sided hybrid crystal structure including a trigonal Sapphire wafer containing a (0001) C-plane and having front and rear sides. The Sapphire wafer is substantially transparent to light in the visible and infrared spectra, and also provides insulation with respect to electromagnetic radio frequency noise. A layer of crystalline Si material having a cubic diamond structure aligned with the cubic <111> direction on the (0001) C-plane and strained as rhombohedron to thereby enable continuous integration of a selected (SiGe) device onto the rear side of the Sapphire wafer. The double sided hybrid crystal structure further includes an integrated III-Nitride crystalline layer on the front side of the Sapphire wafer that enables continuous integration of a selected III-Nitride device on the front side of the Sapphire wafer.

Park, Yeonjoon↗
NASA NTRS1995

CO2 (dry ice) cleaning system

Tomco Equipment Company has participated in the dry ice (solid carbon dioxide, CO2) cleaning industry for over ten years as a pioneer in the manufacturer of high density, dry ice cleaning pellet production equipment. For over four years Tomco high density pelletizers have been available to the dry ice cleaning industry. Approximately one year ago Tomco introduced the DI-250, a new dry ice blast unit making Tomco a single source supplier for sublimable media, particle blast, cleaning systems. This new blast unit is an all pneumatic, single discharge hose device. It meters the insertion of 1/8 inch diameter (or smaller), high density, dry ice pellets into a high pressure, propellant gas stream. The dry ice and propellant streams are controlled and mixed from the blast cabinet. From there the mixture is transported to the nozzle where the pellets are accelerated to an appropriate blasting velocity. When directed to impact upon a target area, these dry ice pellets have sufficient energy to effectively remove most surface coatings through dry, abrasive contact. The meta-stable, dry ice pellets used for CO2 cleaning, while labeled 'high density,' are less dense than alternate, abrasive, particle blast media. In addition, after contacting the target surface, they return to their equilibrium condition: a superheated gas state. Most currently used grit blasting media are silicon dioxide based, which possess a sharp tetrahedral molecular structure. Silicon dioxide crystal structures will always produce smaller sharp-edged replicas of the original crystal upon fracture. Larger, softer dry ice pellets do not share the same sharp-edged crystalline structures as their non-sublimable counterparts when broken. In fact, upon contact with the target surface, dry ice pellets will plastically deform and break apart. As such, dry ice cleaning is less harmful to sensitive substrates, workers and the environment than chemical or abrasive cleaning systems. Dry ice cleaning system components include: a dry ice pellet supply, a non-reactive propellant gas source, a pellet and propellant metering device, and a media transport and acceleration hose and nozzle arrangement. Dry ice cleaning system operating parameters include: choice of propellant gas, its pressure and temperature, dry ice mass flow rate, dry ice pellet size and shape, and acceleration nozzle configuration. These parameters may be modified to fit different applications. The growth of the dry ice cleaning industry will depend upon timely data acquisition of the effects that independent changes in these parameters have on cleaning rates, with respect to different surface coating and substrate combinations. With this data, optimization of cleaning rates for particular applications will be possible. The analysis of the applicable range of modulation of these parameters, within system component mechanical constraints, has just begun.

Barnett, Donald M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Iron rich low cost superalloys

An iron-rich low-cost superalloy was developed. The alloy, when processed by conventional chill casting, has physical and mechanical properties that compare favorably with existing nickel and cobalt based superalloys while containing significantly lower amounts of strategic elements. Studies were also made on the properties of Cr(20)-Mn(10)-C(3.4)-Fe(bal.), a eutectic alloy processed by chill casting and directional solidification which produced an aligned microstructure consisting of M7C3 fibers in a gamma-Fe matrix. Thermal expansion of the M7C3 (M = Fe, Cr, Mn) carbide lattice was measured up to 800 C and found to be highly anisotropic, with the a-axis being the predominant mode of expansion. Repetitive impact sliding wear experiments performed with the Fe rich eutectic alloy showed that the directionally solidified microstructure greatly improved the alloy's wear resistance as compared to the chill cast microstructure and conventional nickel base superalloys. Studies on the molybdenum cementite phase prove that the crystal structure of the xi phase is not orthorhombic. The crystal structure of the xi phase is made up of octahedra building elements consisting of four Mo and two Fe atoms and trigonal prisms consisting of four Fe and two Mo atoms. The voids are occupied by carbon atoms. The previous chemical formula for the molybdenum cementite MoFe2C is now clearly seen to be Mo12Fe22C10.

Wayne, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Experimental Studies of the Interaction Between a Parallel Shear Flow and a Directionally-Solidifying Front

It has long been recognized that flow in the melt can have a profound influence on the dynamics of a solidifying interface and hence the quality of the solid material. In particular, flow affects the heat and mass transfer, and causes spatial and temporal variations in the flow and melt composition. This results in a crystal with nonuniform physical properties. Flow can be generated by buoyancy, expansion or contraction upon phase change, and thermo-soluto capillary effects. In general, these flows can not be avoided and can have an adverse effect on the stability of the crystal structures. This motivates crystal growth experiments in a microgravity environment, where buoyancy-driven convection is significantly suppressed. However, transient accelerations (g-jitter) caused by the acceleration of the spacecraft can affect the melt, while convection generated from the effects other than buoyancy remain important. Rather than bemoan the presence of convection as a source of interfacial instability, Hurle in the 1960s suggested that flow in the melt, either forced or natural convection, might be used to stabilize the interface. Delves considered the imposition of both a parabolic velocity profile and a Blasius boundary layer flow over the interface. He concluded that fast stirring could stabilize the interface to perturbations whose wave vector is in the direction of the fluid velocity. Forth and Wheeler considered the effect of the asymptotic suction boundary layer profile. They showed that the effect of the shear flow was to generate travelling waves parallel to the flow with a speed proportional to the Reynolds number. There have been few quantitative, experimental works reporting on the coupling effect of fluid flow and morphological instabilities. Huang studied plane Couette flow over cells and dendrites. It was found that this flow could greatly enhance the planar stability and even induce the cell-planar transition. A rotating impeller was buried inside the sample cell, driven by an outside rotating magnet, in order to generate the flow. However, it appears that this was not a well-controlled flow and may also have been unsteady. In the present experimental study, we want to study how a forced parallel shear flow in a Hele-Shaw cell interacts with the directionally solidifying crystal interface. The comparison of experimental data show that the parallel shear flow in a Hele-Shaw cell has a strong stabilizing effect on the planar interface by damping the existing initial perturbations. The flow also shows a stabilizing effect on the cellular interface by slightly reducing the exponential growth rate of cells. The left-right symmetry of cells is broken by the flow with cells tilting toward the incoming flow direction. The tilting angle increases with the velocity ratio. The experimental results are explained through the parallel flow effect on lateral solute transport. The phenomenon of cells tilting against the flow is consistent with the numerical result of Dantzig and Chao.

Zhang, Meng↗
NASA NTRS1984

Intermediate phases in some rare earth-ruthenium systems

The phase equilibria and crystal structures of intermediate phases were investigated in eight representative RE-Ru systems using powder X-ray diffraction and metallographic techniques. The Fe3C, Mn5C2 and Er5Ru3 structures occur in all but the Ce-Ru systems. Phases analogous to Er5Ru3 possess an unknown crystal structure similar to Er5Rh3(I). MgCu2 and MgZn2 type Laves phases are encountered in the light rare earth and heavy rare earth systems, respectively, and RERu2 phases, where RE = Nd and Sm, possess both the Laves phase structures. An intermediate phase, NdRu, with an unknown structure, occurs only in the Nd-Ru system. A bcc structure with 40 atoms per unit cell is encountered in the phases Er3Ru2 and Y3Ru2. The behavior of cerium in Ce-Ru alloys is unique in that four unidentified structures, not encountered in other RE-Ru systems, have been encountered. Also a phase designated as Ce3Ru is found with the Th7Fe3 type structure.

Sharifrazi, P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Pinning, flow and plastic deformation of flux vortices in high T(sub c) superconductors

In high temperature superconductor (HTSC) materials the vortices are highly mobile and flexible. This is reflected in different models of melt of a vortex lattice. Another aspect of the problem is stressed: an easy nucleation and high mobility of dislocations in the vortex lattice. Some models of plastic deformation of vortex lattice are considered as a result of its interaction with a real crystal structure. Depinning is interpreted as yield of plastic flow is vortex medium. Effect of macroscopic defects in crystal structures (pores, inclusions, grain and domain boundaries) is being considered in detail. Available experimental facts on magnetization and a critical current in HTSC and conventional superconductors are discussed from the points of view of depinning to vortices vs. plastic flow of vortices vs. plastic flow of vortices medium.

Roytburd, A.↗