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At least 109 records · Page 6

The XRD Amorphous Component in John Klein Drill Fines at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars

Drill fines of mudstone (targets John Klein and Cumberland) from the Sheepbed unit at Yel-lowknife Bay were analyzed by MSL payload elements including the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin), APXS (Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer), and Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instruments. CheMin XRD results show a variety of crystalline phases including feldspar, pyroxene, olivine, oxides, oxyhydroxides, sulfates, sulfides, a tri-octahedral smectite, and XRD amorphous material. The drill fines are distinctly different from corresponding analyses of the global soil (target Rocknest) in that the mudstone samples contained detectable phyllosilicate. Here we focus on John Klein and combine CheMin and APXS data to calculate the chemical composition and concentration of the amorphous component. The chemical composition of the amorphous plus smectite component for John Klein was calculated by subtracting the abundance-weighted chemical composition of the individual XRD crystalline components from the bulk composition of John Kline as measured by APXS. The chemical composition of individual crystalline components was determined either by stoichiometry (e.g., hematite and magnetite) or from their unit cell parameters (e.g., feldspar, olivine, and pyroxene). The chemical composition of the amorphous + smectite component (approx 71 wt.% of bulk sample) and bulk chemical composition are similar. In order to calculate the chemical composition of the amorphous component, a chemical composition for the tri-octahedral smectite must be assumed. We selected two tri-octahedral smectites with very different MgO/(FeO + Fe2O3) ratios (34 and 1.3 for SapCa1 and Griffithite, respectively). Relative to bulk sample, the concentration of amorphous and smectite components are 40 and 29 wt.% for SapCa1 and 33 and 36 wt.% for Griffithite. The amount of smectite was calculated by requiring the MgO concentration to be approx 0 wt.% in the amorphous component. Griffithite is the preferred smectite because the position of its 021 diffraction peak is similar to that reported for John Klein. In both cases, the amorphous component has low SiO2 and MgO and high FeO + Fe2O3, P2O5, and SO3 concentrations relative to bulk sample. The chemical composition of the bulk drill fines and XRD crystalline, smectite, and amorphous components implies alteration of an initially basaltic material under near neutral conditions (not acid sulfate), with the sulfate incorporated later as veins of CaSO4 injected into the mudstone.

Morris, Richard V.↗

Hibonite, Ca2/Al, Ti/24O38, from the Leoville and Allende chondritic meteorites.

Hibonite was discovered in light-colored, Ca-Al-Ti-rich and Si-Fe-poor, achondritic inclusions of the Leoville and Allende HL-group chondrites. Two varieties of hibonite occur: one emits a bright red-orange luminescence under electron bombardment and has high amounts of Al2O3 (87.7; 87.9) and low amounts of MgO (0.65; 0.8) and TiO2 (0.68; 0.8). The other emits a bright blue luminescence and is low in Al2O3 (78.7; 79.2) and high in MgO (3.3; 3.7) and TiO2 (6.5; 7.9) (in wt. %). The oxide CaO is about the same in both varieties. It is suggested that the change in the color of the visible luminescence results from changes in composition. The origin of hibonite which occurs in complex mineral assemblages together with anorthite, gelhenite, wollastonite, aluminous diopside, andradite, Ca-pyroxene, perovskite, spinel, taenite, chromite, and pentlandite, and in close proximity to nodules containing calcite, whewellite, forsterite and many of the aforementioned phases, is discussed. The proposition that hibonite and associated phases originated by contact metamorphism and metasomatism of calcite-dolomite bearing assemblages cannot, at this time, be completely ruled out.

Keil, K.↗

Crystallization of plagioclase in mare basalts

A detailed study has been made of the morphology, zoning and major- and minor-element chemistry of plagioclase in mare basalt 12021 and for comparison, in several other mare basalts. Two types of plagioclase can be distinguished based on growth rate as expressed by the formation of hollow as opposed to lath-shaped crystals. The liquidus plagioclase is the most sodic part of the hollow crystals and is more sodic than the lath-shaped crystals. Hollow grains show oscillatory zoning, whereas the lath-shaped grains show normal zoning. The ratios FeO/(FeO + MgO) and K2O/(K2O + Na2O) increased in both types of plagioclase as they grew, and these ratios can be used as a guide to the crystallization history of the plagioclase. The FeO/(FeO + MgO) ratios are similar to those of coprecipitating pyroxene. The data presented here suggest the onset of plagioclase nucleation is primarily controlled by magma composition, and the point at which the magma becomes supersaturated with plagioclase.

Crawford, M. L.↗

Oxidation behavior of nickel-chromium-aluminum-yttrium - Magnesium oxide and nickel-chromium-aluminum-yttrium - zirconate type of cermets

The 1100 and 1200 C cyclic oxidation resistance of dense Ni-Cr-Al-Y - MgO, Ni-Cr-Al-Y - CaZrO3, Ni-Cr-Al-Y - SrZrO3, Ni-Cr-Al-Y - MgZro3 cermets and a 70 percent dense Ni-Cr-Al-Y developmental material was determined. The cermets contained 60 and 50 volume percent of Ni-Cr-Al-Y which formed a matrix with the oxide particles imbedded in it. The cermets containing MgO were superior to cermets based on zirconates and to the porous Ni-Cr-Al-Y material.

Zaplatynsky, I.↗

Effects of high temperature and e-beam irradiation on the stability of refractory thin films

Refractory thin films of Al2O3, ZrO2, MgO, ThO2, and BN have been investigated in situ in an UHV transmission electron microscope. The electron transparent refractory films were prepared by electron-beam evaporation, anodization, RF sputtering, and thinning of bulk crystal materials. The study concentrates on monitoring the thermal and mechanical stability of the films, phase and structural changes, and electron irradiation effects as a function of film-preparation conditions. With increasing temperatures, five different crystallographic phases were observed for both anodized and electron-beam-evaporated alumina films. Zirconia films exhibited two phase transitions upon heating to 1200 C and electron-irradiation-induced crystallization of ZrO2 even at room temperature. MgO, ThO2, and BN films did not undergo any noticeable phase transformation but ruptured due to sintering below 1200 C.

Lee, E. H.↗

Basalts from Mare Crisium

The stratified core sample returned from Mare Crisium by the Luna 24 unmanned space probe is composed primarily of a variety of subophitic to ophitic basalt with very low contents of TiO2 and MgO. This consists of clinopyroxene, calcic plagioclase, olivine, and minor amounts of silica, chromite, ulvoespinel, ilmenite, troilite, apatite, and Fe-metal. Granular metabasalts have the same bulk composition, but mineral phases exhibit less compositional variation. Fine-grained impact melts have similar compositions and are apparently derived from these basalts. It is concluded that the basalts, which are chemically distinct from the very-low-titanium basalts found elsewhere on the moon, represent the local surface flows of Mare Crisium. Sparse fragments of an olivine vitrophyre that is low in TiO2 but high in MgO and approaches the composition of the Apollo 15 green glasses may be derived from patches of dark mantling materials 20 km from the landing site.

Ryder, G.↗

Effects of thermal metamorphism on compositions of lunar spinels

The reported study represents an attempt to evaluate experimentally the compositional and textural changes that are likely to be observed in the Fe-Ti-Cr spinels of lunar igneous rocks by subsequent thermal metamorphism. The Apollo 12 igneous rock, 12018,43, was chosen for this investigation because an earlier study of another fraction of this rock by El Goresy et al. (1971) has reported an almost continuous trend of spinel compositions between Cr-Ulvoespinel and Ti-chromite. The nature of the compositional changes in the heated spinels (and ilmenites) is found to be such that the changes cannot be explained by intragranular adjustments alone. In the heated sample, pyroxene grains adjacent to the high-Ti spinels show a decrease in FeO, and an increase in MgO and Al2O3 at the interface. This may account for the MgO depletion and a part of the FeO enrichment in the high-Ti spinels. It is believed that the heating experiment demonstrates that thermal metamorphism of lunar basalts is likely to modify the compositions of their preexisting spinels (and ilmenites).

Misra, K. C.↗

Uniform magnesium oxide adsorbents

Kr adsorption on MgO is used to characterize the surface uniformity of MgO smoke and thermally decomposed Mg(OH)2. It is found that initially heterogeneous samples develop progressively sharper stepwise isotherms with increasingly-high-temperature heat treatment, apparently due to the removal of imperfections and high-energy facets, leaving surfaces of highly uniform (100) planes.

Dash, J. G.↗

Chemical and Sr-isotopic characteristics of the Luna 24 samples

The chemical and Sr isotopic characteristics of Luna 24 bulk soil samples are determined and interpreted within the framework of lunar mare basalt evolution. Major and trace element compositions lead to the suggestion of candidate rock types consisting of a basalt/gabbro with very low TiO2 and MgO content (52%), a very low TiO2 basalt with 10% MgO (23%), olivine vitrophyre (20%), low K Fra Mauro basalt (4%) and anorthositic gabbro (1%). The proposed compositions are supported by the agreement of mixing models based on the proposed compositions with observed soil compositions. Sr ratios for plagioclase samples imply a lower Sr-87/Sr-86 value for low Mg soils than for other mare basalts and higher Rb/Sr and a more evolved Sr ratio in high Mg basalts. Rb, Sr and rare earth element compositions for low Mg basalts fit a model of partial remelting of cumulates containing small amounts of plagioclase.

Nyquist, L. E.↗

Derivation of a heterogeneous lithic fragment in the Bovedy L-group chondrite from impact-melted porphyritic chondrules

Results are presented of petrographic, compositional and dating analyses of a light-colored lithic fragment in the L-group Bovedy meteorite that has a composition different from that of the host chondrite. Polished thin sections of the lithic fragment, host, and the fragment-host boundary were examined microscopically and analyzed by electron microprobe, metallic Ni-Fe, and instrumental neutron activation techniques; chips of the fragment were also used for Ar-39/Ar-40 dating and oxygen isotope analyses. The poikilitic textures, olivine, low-Ca pyroxene and kamacite composition and low Na2O, K2O and P2O5 contents of the fragment indicate that it represents a solidified, slightly fractionated impact melt formed from a source rich in porphyritic chondrules. A progressive increase on MgO content across the fragment is accounted for by the heterogeneous nucleation of MgO-rich phases. The Ar data indicate that the Bovedy lithic fragment and its host were partly degassed of radiogenic Ar less than 0.94 billion years ago, probably due to shock. The data are consistent with a cooling rate of about 5 C/million years through 500 C, which must have resulted from the burial of the assemblage beneath insulating material on the parent body at depths of at least several km.

Rubin, A. E.↗

Mars Geoscience Orbiter and Lunar Geoscience Orbiter

The feasibility of using the AE/DE Earth orbiting spacecraft design for the LGO and/or MGO missions was determined. Configurations were developed and subsystems analysis was carried out to optimize the suitability of the spacecraft to the missions. The primary conclusion is that the basic AE/DE spacecraft can readily be applied to the LGO mission with relatively minor, low risk modifications. The MGO mission poses a somewhat more complex problem, primarily due to the overall maneuvering hydrazine budget and power requirements of the sensors and their desired duty cycle. These considerations dictate a modification (scaling up) of the structure to support mission requirements.

Fuldner, W. V.↗

Temperatures of shock-induced shear instabilities and their relationship to fusion curves

New emission spectra for MgO and CaAl2Si2O8 (glass) are observed from 430 to 820 nm. Taken with previous data, it is suggested that transparent solids display three regimes of light emission upon shock compression to successively higher pressures: (1) characteristic radiation such as observed in MgO and previously in other minerals, (2) heterogeneous hot spot (greybody) radiation observed in CaAl2Si2O8 and previously in all transparent solids undergoing shock-induced phase transformations, and (3) blackbody emission observed in the high pressure phase regime in NaCl, SiO2, CaO, CaAl2Si2O8, and Mg2SiO4. The onset of the second regime may delineate the onset of shock-induced polymorphism whereas the onset of the third regime delineates the Hugoniot pressure required to achieve local thermal equilibrium in the shocked solid. It is also proposed that the hot spot temperatures and corresponding shock pressures determined in the second regime delineate points on the fusion curves of the high pressure phase.

Schmitt, D. R.↗

Two forsterite-bearing FUN inclusions in the Allende meteorite

Two forsterite-, fassaite-, spinel-rich inclusions in Allende which share common mineralogy and texture with three previously described inclusions are described. These inclusions were at least partially molten at temperatures over 1400 C, and their crystallization sequence was spinel, olivine, fassaite, and Mg-rich melilite. At least some of them experienced partial volatilization of MgO and SiO2 from their outer margins. At least one of the inclusions is highly enriched in MgO relative to CaO and Al2O3 compared to Allende coarse-grained inclusions, although it is just as strongly enriched in refractory trace elements as the latter, relative to C1 chondrites. Two of the objects are FUN inclusions on the basis of their oxygen, magnesium, and silicon isotopic compositions.

Clayton, R. N.↗

Remarks on a vibronic origin for the diffuse band spectrum

It has been demonstrated that the diffuse band spectrum could not originate as a series of vibronic transitions from atomic impurities in interstellar MgO grains as has recently been proposed since laboratory spectra of such materials show no evidence for such complex structure. Furthermore, recent observational evidence indicates that the extinction feature at 160 nm in the standard interstellar extinction curve upon which the identification of interstellar MgO was founded is actually the result of a calibration error in the original observational data.

Nuth, J. A.↗

Origin of howardites, diogenites and eucrites - A mass balance constraint

Two petrogenetic models for the noncumulate-basaltic parts of howardite meteorites are discussed. A mass balance constraint is developed which indicates that more than half of the basaltic components in howardites formed as residual liquids from fractional crystallization of melts that had earlier produced diogentelike pyroxene cumulate components. Other model constriants involving scandium trends, clustering near olivine-pyroxene-plagioclase peritectic, and MgO/(MgO + FeO) ratios are discussed.

Warren, P. H.↗

Si3N4-Based Ceramic With Greater Hot Strength

Zyttrite-doped material outperforms MgO-doped material above 1,200 degrees C. New ceramic material produced by addition of 10 weight percent zyttrite (yttria-stabilized zirconia) to (silicon nitride) offers significantly-improved high-temperature properties (those of MgO-doped Si3N4 ceramic). Work also showed that controlled Si3N4 powder with 10 weight percent zyttrite, significant improvement in room-temperature strength achieved. Variety of high-temperature structural applications are silicon nitride and silicon carbide. Potential for use in aircraft and automobile engines and in electric-power generating systems. Improved properties strongly suggest that the 10-weight percent zyttrite/Si3N4 material has strong potential for high-temperature applications.

Dutta, S.↗

Relation between microstructural heterogeneous surface layer and nitrogen pressure during sintering in Si3N4-Ml2O3 ceramics

The effects of N2 pressure (0.1 to 50 MPa) during sintering on the thickness of the microstructurally heterogeneous layer (MHL) formed near the surface of the compact, transverse-rupture strength, were investigated for Si3N4-(10 to 20) mol % MgO-5.5 mol % Al2O3 ceramics. The sintering temperature and time were 1973 K and 3.6 ks, respectively. The N2 gas was introduced into the furnace at about 1273 K. When the compacts were sintered under a certain N2 pressure, for example, about 20 and 7 MPa for 10 and 15 mol% MgO, respectively, the evolutions of N and Si were suppressed. The thickness of the MHL became very small and at the same time the strength of the surface layer of the compact (which was normally less than that of the inside in the case of 0.1 MPa) became nearly the same value as that of the inside. At higher pressure, the strength of both surface layer and the inside decreased considerably. Some discussion was made on these results.

Hayashi, K.↗

Carbon in oxides and silicates - Dissolution versus exsolution

A theory of CO2 dissolution in the solid state is developed, using the idea proposed by Freund (1983) concerning dissolution of CO/CO2 in MgO on the basis of their experimental results obtained with an MgO-containing carbon impurity. It is shown that the dissolution mechanism may be linked to an internal redox reaction by which a certain number of lattice oxygens change their formal oxidation state from -2 to -1, while the carbon becomes reduced. The similarities between the mechanisms of CO and/or CO2 dissolution and that of H2O dissolution are pointed out. A hypothesis is proposed concerning the exsolution of reduced carbon from supersaturated solid solutions under conditions which permit C-C bond formation.

Freund, F.↗