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The thermophysical properties of tungsten and other materials were measured using containerless techniques. Levitation of liquid silver, gallium and tungsten were studied. The studies of liquid aluminum are almost complete and are expected to derive new, reliable properties for liquid aluminum.
A new chromium carbide-based coating (PS 200) is described. This coating is shown to have good friction and wear properties over a wide temperature range. A nickel alloy-bonded chromium carbide coating was used as a baseline material for comparison with experimental formulated coatings. Coatings were plasma sprayed onto metal disks, then diamond ground to a thickness of 0.025 cm. Friction and wear were determined using a pin on disk tribometer at temperatures from 25 to 900 C in hydrogen, helium, and air. Pin materials included several metallic alloys and silicon carbide. It was found that appropriate additions of metallic silver and of barium fluoride/calcium fluoride eutectic to the baseline carbide composition significantly reduced friction coefficients while preserving, and in some cases, even enhancing wear resistance. The results of this study demonstrate that PS 200 is a promising coating composition to consider for high temperature aerospace and advanced heat engine applications. The excellent results in hydrogen make this coating of particular interest for use in the Stirling engine.
The overall objective of the project was to evaluate LANDSAT-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) data in the context of geologic applications. This involved a quantitative assessment of the data quality including the spatial and spectral characteristics realized by the instrument. Three test sites were selected for the study: (1) Silver Bell, Arizona; (2) Death Valley, California; and (3) Wind River/Bighorn Basin area, Wyoming. Conclusions include: (1) Artificial and natural targets can be used to atmospherically calibrate TM data and investigate scanner radiometry, atmospheric parameters, and construction of atmospheric Modulation Transfer Functions (MTF's), (2) No significant radiometric degradation occurs in TM data as a result of SCROUNGE processing; however, the data exhibit narrow digital number (DN) distributiosn suggesting that the configuration of the instrument is not optimal for each science applications, (30 Increased spatial resolution, 1:24,000 enlargement capability, and good geometric fidelity of TM data allow accurate photogeologic/geomorphic mapping, including relative age dating of alluvial fans, measurement of structural and bedding attitudes, and construction of such things as structural cross sections and stratigraphic columns. (4) TM bands 5 and 7 are particularly useful for geologic applications because they span a region of the spectrum not previously sampled by multispectral scanner data and are important for characterizing clay and carbonate materials.
A procedure is described for determining the extent of arc electrode erosion (excluding erosion due to transfer of material) from measurements of emitted spectral beam intensity. The relation between emission intensity and plasma temperature is ascertained. Experimental study of several combinations of monometallic electrodes shows that the method is suitable for determining cathode erosion, although the anode metal affects the extent of erosion. Combinations of electrodes which lead to low erosion of silver are reported.
At the beginning of the Get-Away Special (GAS) flight program, the GAS Project flew a Flight Verification Payload on STS-3 to make measurements of the vibrations, acoustic and magnetic environments of the canister, and to obtain thermal profiles of internal and external components of the GAS system. These data were used to verify pre-flight thermal models of the GAS system and results have been published in a GSFC Technical Note, X-732-83-8 (Butler, 1983). On somewhat later flights of the Orbiter, STS-7 and STS-8, the Naval Research Laboratory and the Goddard Space Flight Center jointly developed and flew a GAS payload whose primary objective was to evaluate the performance of ultraviolet-sensitive (Schumann) photographic emulsions in the Orbiter environment, including pre-flight integration, on-orbit exposure to the ambient environment of the Orbiter bay and post-flight conditions before removal of the experiment from the vehicle. These emulsions, used in spectrographs to record solar radiations with wavelengths between 100 A and 2000 A, have low gelatin content and no protective gelatin overcoating in order to maximize their UV sensitivity. Consequently, they are extremely sensitive to environmental conditions. Furthermore, they are exposed directly to space during the observations because any intervening protective window or lense would completely absorb the radiations to be studied. which was prepared at the Naval Research Laboratory under the direction of Robert Kreplin (Kreplin et al., 1984 a) also included two thermal sensors, whose output was recorded once an hour with a precision of 0.7O C. The experiment operated nominally on both missions and provided important data confirming that W - sensitive emulsions could tolerate integration and flight on the Shuttle with relatively little deterioration. The results of these studies have already been reported (Kreplin et al, 1984 b). The temperature measurements also were recorded successfully and are the basis for this paper. They are a useful complement to the thermal observations made on STS-3 and provide additional insight into the reaction of a payload to typical thermal environments that GAS experiments are subject to. Our GAS experiment and the circumstances of its flights were particularly useful in terms of modeling the thermal response of the GAS canister and our instrument. The Orbiter was held (except for interruptions for star tracker alignment, satellite deployments, etc., in specific attitudes for sufficiently long periods of time that the thermal response of the instrument to each attitude was well measured. Two types of GAS canister end cap, one, the insulated end cap and the other a silverized teflon covered end-cap, were used on the two flights so that a direct comparison of the thermal performance of the two types was obtained. This report is an attempt to compare these observations with a simple thermal model of the instrument in the GAS canister in order to assess whether such simple models can be useful to experimenters in predicting the thermal response of their payloads.
The results of the Get Away Special (GAS) Arts-Science payload G-38, processed in orbit on board the Space Shuttle Challenger during mission 41-G STS 17, October 5 to 13, l984 are explained. The payload G-38 was created as a unified Arts-Science payload that simultaneously explored the process of vapor deposition in the vacuum and weightlessness of the shuttle environment and created a series of space sculptures utilizing this process. The purpose of the experiment was to test the sputter deposition process in space and to create five subtle spherical sculptures with metallic coatings of gold, silver, platinum and chrome.
It is evident from space flights during the last three years that the low Earth orbital (LEO) environment interacts with spacecraft surfaces in significant ways. One manifestation of these interactions is recession of, in particular, organic-polymer-based surfaces presumably due to oxidation by atomic oxygen, the major component of the LEO environment. Three experiments have been conducted on Space Shuttle flights 5, 8 and 41-G to measure reaction rates and the effects of various parameters on reaction rates. Surface recession on these flights indicates reaction efficiencies approximately 3 x 10(-24) cu cm/atoms for unfilled organic polymers. Of the metals, silver and osmium are very reactive. Effects on spacecraft or experiment surfaces can be evaluated using the derived reaction efficiencies and a definition of the total exposure to atomic oxygen. This exposure is obtained using an ambient density model, solar activity data and spacecraft parameters of altitude, attitude and operational date. Oxygen flux on a given surface is obtained from the ambient density and spacecraft velocity and can then be integrated to provide the total exposure or fluence. Such information can be generated using simple computational programs and can be converted to various formats. Overall, the extent of damage is strongly dependent on the type of surface and total exposure time.
Reconnaissance field work has led to the recognition of extensive Early Tertiary gneiss and schist which are distinguished by weakly developed to highly conspicous northeast to east-trending stretching lineation commonly accompanied by low-dipping foliation. This structural fabric has been imposed on Precambrian to Paleogene rocks. Regionally, minimum ages of deformation are based upon interpreted U-Pb isotopic ages from suites of cogenetic zircon from the Paleogene orthogneiss. Locally, the interpreted ages indicate that ductile deformation continued as late as Oligocene (Anderson and others, 1980; Silver and Anderson, 1984). The consistency of the deformational style is such that, although considerable variation in intensity exists, the fabric can be recognized and correlated in rocks away from the Paleogene orthogneiss.
In some applications, the wires used to construct the grids are plated over with highly conducting materials such as gold or silver. In those cases, depending on the frequency of operation, the coating may not be thick enough to prevent currents from flowing in the substrate. The conjugate gradient method, in conjunction with the fast Fourier transform is employed to solve the problem of scattering from such rectangular grids. An internal impedance is utilized to account for the effects of the substrate conductivity on the induced current densities. Calculated values of the reflection coefficient and induced currents from different coating thicknesses, angles of incidence and polarizations are presented and discussed.
The effects of ambient space environment on metals were studied by exposing specimens of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Cr, Al, Pt, and Pd on flight 41-G (STS-17). Data obtained by ellipsometry (ELL), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) before and after flight are summarized. Although the effects of space environment were most pronounced for silver, there were significant changes in the surface properties of the majority of the other metals. The surface optical constants proved to be the most sensitive measure of surface changes. These changes are attributed to the interaction of the metals with atomic oxygen.
The thermal stability of reactively sputtered tungsten-nitrogen alloy thin films is investigated for the application as diffusion barriers in silicon contact metallizations. The composition of W-N barriers is varied over a wide range including pure W. Aluminum, gold, and silver are used as low resistivity overlayers. Metallurgical interactions at temperatures ranging from 500 to 900 C are studied. Incorporating nitrogen into tungsten advantageously stabilizes all three systems. The overall failure takes place rapidly above critical temperatures that depend on both the metal overlayer and the microstructure of the barrier. In some cases, W-N alloys can effectively prevent interdiffusion at temperatures as high as 800 C for 30 min.
A unique scanning electron accessory has been developed that allows the observation of specimens under partial pressures of any gas. The sample is placed in a metal support boat inside a special sample holder. The sample in the boat is imaged on a CRT and is simultaneously recorded on a videotape, allowing the reaction between the sample and the gas to be observed in real time. Sample changes can be seen continuously as the sample is being heated or cooled. This process allows the observation of material transformations such as phase changes as they happen. Temperatures as high as 1000 C have been used and are continuously monitored using a thermocouple with a digital display on the CRT and videotape. X-ray analyses can also be run before and after any reactions. In the study described here, thick-film screen-printing inks using molybdenum/tin compositions as a replacement for silver were developed to be used on terrestrial photovoltaic cells. Pieces were placed on the sample stage and heated in both O2 and H2 atmospheres. The results were used to determine the most effective frits to be used in the thick-film inks.
Modifications of material surface properties due to interactions with ambient atomic oxygen have been observed on surfaces facing the orbital direction in low earth orbits. Some effects are very damaging to surface optical properties while some are more subtle and even beneficial. Most combustible materials are heavily etched, and some coatings, such as silver and osmium, are seriously degraded or removed as volatile oxides. The growth of oxide films on metals and semiconductors considered stable in dry air was measured. Material removal, surface roughness, reflectance, and optical densities are reported. Effects of temperature, contamination, and overcoatings are noted.
Technology for strengthening thin sections reviewed. Report reviews technology of high-strength glass for such solar applications as heat collectors, reflectors, and photovoltaic arrays. Discusses most feasible methods - heat strengthening and chemical strengthening of increasing strength of glass for solar-energy use. Also estimates cost and availability of high-strength glass and considers physical characteristics, amenability to back-silvering, and effects of atmospheric contamination.
Reflective surfaces for space station power generation systems are required to withstand the atomic oxygen-dominated environment of near Earth orbit. Thin films of platinum and rhodium, which are corrosion resistant reflective metals, have been deposited by ion beam sputter deposition onto various substrate materials. Solar reflectances were then measured as a function of time of exposure to a RF-generated air plasma. Similarly, various protective coating materials, including MgF2, SiO2, Al2O3, and Si3N4, were deposited onto silver-coated substrates and then exposed to the plasma. Analysis of the films both before and after exposure by both ESCA and Auger spectroscopy was also performed. The results indicate that Pt and Rh do not suffer any loss in reflectance over the duration of the tests. Also, each of the coating materials survived the plasma environment. The ESCA and Auger analyses are discussed as well.
Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data were collected over Virginia City, Nevada; an area of gold and silver mineralization with extensive surface exposures of altered volcanic rocks. The data were corrected for atmospheric effects by a flat-field method, and compared to library spectra of various alteration minerals using a spectral analysis program SPAM. Areas of strong clay alteration were identified on the AIS images that were mapped as kaolinitic, illitic, and sericitic alterations zones. Kaolinitic alteration is distinguishable in the 2.1 to 2.4 and 1.2 to 1.5 micrometer wavelength regions. Montmorillonite, illite, and sericite have absorption features similar to each other at 2.2 micrometer wavelength. Montnorillonite and illite also may be present in varying proportions within one Ground Instantaneous Field of View (GIFOV). In general AIS data is useful in identifying alteration zones that are associated with or lie above precious metal mineralization at Virginia City.
Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data were collected 30 August 1985 from a desert shrub community in central Oregon. Spectra from artificial targets placed on the test site and from bare soil, big sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata wyomingensis), silver sagebrush (Artemesia cana bolander), and exposed volcanic rocks were studied. Spectral data from grating position 3 (tree mode) were selected from 25 ground positions for analysis by Principal Factor Analysis (PFA). In this grating position, as many as six factors were identified as significant in contributing to spectral structure. Channels 74 through 84 (tree mode) best characterized between-class differences. Other channels were identified as nondiscriminating and as associated with such errors as excessive atmospheric absorption and grating positin changes. The test site was relatively simple with the two species (A. tridentata and A. cana) representing nearly 95% of biomass and with only two mineral backgrounds, a montmorillonitic soil and volcanic rocks. If, as in this study, six factors of spectral structure can be extracted from a single grating position from data acquired over a simple vegetation community, then AIS data must be considered rich in information-gathering potential.
Solar dynamic power system mirrors for use on space station and other spacecraft flown in low Earth orbit (LEO) are exposed to the harshness of the LEO environment. Both atomic oxygen and micrometeoroids/space debris can degrade the performance of such mirrors. Protective coatings will be required to protect oxidizable reflecting media, such as silver and aluminum, from atomic oxygen attack. Several protective coating materials have been identified as good candidates for use in this application. The durability of these coating/mirror systems after pinhole defects have been inflicted during their fabrication and deployment or through micrometeoroid/space debris impact once on-orbit is of concern. Studies of the effect of an oxygen plasma environment on protected mirror surfaces with intentionally induced pinhole defects have been conducted at NASA Lewis and are reviewed. It has been found that oxidation of the reflective layer and/or the substrate in areas adjacent to a pinhole defect, but not directly exposed by the pinhole, can occur.