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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 1,135 records · Page 63

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DOE OSTI2023

Super p-sulfur cathodes for quasi-solid-state lithium-sulfur-batteries

Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries have become a promising candidate to meet the current energy storage demand, with its natural abundance of materials, high theoretical capacity of 1672 mAhg-1, high energy density of 2600 Whkg-1, low cost and lower environmental impact. Sulfide based solid state electrolytes (SSEs) have received greater attention due to their higher ionic conductivity, compatible interface with sulfur-based cathodes, and lower grain boundary resistance. However, the interface between SSEs and cathodes has become a challenge in all solid-state Li-S batteries due to the rigidity of the participating surfaces. A hybrid electrolyte containing SSE coupled with a small amount of ionic liquid, was essential to improve the interface contact of the SSE with the electrodes. Coating-based cathodes were successfully fabricated using water-based carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution and Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) as the binder with low sulfur loading (0.70 mgcm-2) as well as high sulfur loading (4.0 mgcm-2). Solid-state composite powder-based cathodes pressed onto SSE (loading 4.0 mgcm-2) with enhanced electronic and ionic conductivity were fabricated with Super P: Sulfur (SP:S) and SSE. Ionic Liquids (IL) prepared using Lithium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) as salt, with premixed pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide (PYR) as solvent and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) as diluent were used to wet both SSE-electrode interfaces. The effect of IL dilution, co-solvent amount, LiTFSI concentration, C rate at which the batteries are tested and the effect of SSE inside the cathode, were systematically studied and optimized to develop a quasi-solid-state electrolyte Li-S battery (QSSLSB) with higher capacity retention and cyclability. LiTFSI (2M) dissolved in PYR:DOL(1:1) found to be optimum IL combination for low sulfur loading QSSLSBs reaching 500 mAh/g after 100 cycles while LiTFSI (3M) in PYR:DOL(1:3) was the optimum IL concentration for higher loading QSSLSBs reaching 400 mAh/g after 100 cycles. This work reports promising results of QSSLSB based on novel Li6PS5F0.5Cl0.5 Li-argyrodite solid-state electrolyte (SSE) with minute amount of IL, Super P-Sulfur (SP:S) cathode, and Li-anode. It also offers a new insight into the intimate interfacial contacts between the SSE and carbon-sulfur cathodes, which will be critical for improved electrochemical performance of quasi-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries with high sulfur loading in the future.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Post-process annealing of large-scale 3D printed polyphenylene sulfide composites

Large-scale extrusion-based additive manufacturing of high-performance thermoplastic composites like fiber reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is well-suited for tooling applications to lower manufacturing costs and lead times. Autoclave tooling requires good mechanical performance at temperatures even above the glass transition temperature (T g ). In this work, the authors have investigated a post-process isothermal annealing technique to improve the mechanical properties of various grades of carbon fiber reinforced PPS components printed on the Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) system. Since PPS is a semi-crystalline polymer, crystallinity can change during annealing and affect the mechanical properties of the part. In addition, isothermal annealing can also lead to solid-state structural changes in the form of thermal and oxidative branching and/or crosslinking reactions in some grades of PPS which can alter the crystallization process. This work reports the effect of annealing on dynamic mechanical properties of BAAM printed components, along with studies to determine the effect of annealing on crystallinity and the occurrence of oxidative reactions. Results showed that isothermal annealing at 250 °C for 18 h improved the storage modulus of all selected grades (neat and reinforced) of PPS at temperatures above T g . Annealing led to an overall increase in the degree of crystallinity, with secondary crystallization taking place. Although oxidative structural changes were observed to occur more on the surface of the PPS parts, they primarily influenced the size of crystals formed and did not significantly alter the degree of crystallinity at various regions within the sample.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS2011

Probabilistic Analysis of a Composite Crew Module

An approach for conducting reliability-based analysis (RBA) of a Composite Crew Module (CCM) is presented. The goal is to identify and quantify the benefits of probabilistic design methods for the CCM and future space vehicles. The coarse finite element model from a previous NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) project is used as the baseline deterministic analysis model to evaluate the performance of the CCM using a strength-based failure index. The first step in the probabilistic analysis process is the determination of the uncertainty distributions for key parameters in the model. Analytical data from water landing simulations are used to develop an uncertainty distribution, but such data were unavailable for other load cases. The uncertainty distributions for the other load scale factors and the strength allowables are generated based on assumed coefficients of variation. Probability of first-ply failure is estimated using three methods: the first order reliability method (FORM), Monte Carlo simulation, and conditional sampling. Results for the three methods were consistent. The reliability is shown to be driven by first ply failure in one region of the CCM at the high altitude abort load set. The final predicted probability of failure is on the order of 10-11 due to the conservative nature of the factors of safety on the deterministic loads.

FROM↗

NASA NTRS2002

Weld repair of directionally solidified articles

A directionally solidified nickel-base superalloy article has a defect therein extending parallel to the solidification direction. The article is repaired by removing any foreign matter present in the defect, and then heating the article to a repair temperature of from about 60 to about 98 percent of the solidus temperature of the base material in a chamber containing a protective gas that inhibits oxidation of the base material. The defect is filled with a filler metal while maintaining the article at the repair temperature. The filling is accomplished by providing a source of the filler metal of substantially the same composition as the base material of the directionally solidified article, and melting the filler metal into the defect progressively while moving the source of the filler metal relative to the article in a direction parallel to the solidification direction. Optionally, additional artificial heat extraction is accomplished in a heat-flow direction that is within about 45 degrees of the solidification direction, as the filler metal solidifies within the defect. The article may thereafter be heat treated.

Smashey, Russell W.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Directionally solidified article with weld repair

Smashey, Russell W.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Electromagnetic on-aircraft antenna radiation in the presence of composite plates

The UTD-based NEWAIR3 code is modified such that it can model modern aircraft by composite plates. One good model of conductor-backed composites is the impedance boundary condition where the composites are replaced by surfaces with complex impedances. This impedance-plate model is then used to model the composite plates in the NEWAIR3 code. In most applications, the aircraft distorts the desired radiation pattern of the antenna. However, test examples conducted in this report have shown that the undesired scattered fields are minimized if the right impedance values are chosen for the surface impedance plates.

Kan, S. H-T.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Tribological behavior of spark plasma sintered Ti 3 SiC 2 MAX phase composites

Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phases are considered promising candidates for tribological applications; but, their low hardness (5-6 GPa) can lead to increased abrasive wear and higher wear rates. This study investigates the effect of incorporating hard SiC particles on microstructure, mechanical, and tribological behavior of Ti₃SiC₂-SiC-based MAX phase composites prepared using spark plasma sintering at 1400 °C, 40 MPa, 15-minute holding time. Phase and microstructural characterization of composites confirmed the formation of Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phase (90%) along with TiC as a minor phase (10%). For Ti₃SiC₂-SiC, homogeneous distribution of SiC grains within Ti₃SiC₂ matrix resulted in increased hardness from ~11.6 GPa to ~14.8 GPa; however, the flexural strength decreased from ~615 MPa to ~597 MPa due to coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch. Tribological behavior of Ti₃SiC₂-SiC MAX phase composites was assessed using unidirectional sliding ball-on-flat tests with a 52100 steel ball at different loads and a constant speed of 0.05 m/s. SiC reinforced composites exhibited a decreased friction coefficient from 0.39 to 0.29 and wear rates comparable to Ti₃SiC₂ (7-10×10⁻³ mm³/N·m). SEM and EDS analysis of the worn surfaces indicated material transfer from the steel ball counter body and its oxidation due to frictional heating, at lower loads (2N and 5N), whereas at higher load (10N), fracture of the transfer layer dominated, with the presence of microcracks, delamination, grain pull-outs, and wear debris. Improved mechanical properties and good adhesion of SiC with Ti₃SiC₂ matrix resulted in reduced microcracks and grain pull-outs, making Ti₃SiC₂-SiC/Steel tribo-pair more suitable for tribological applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Non-conventional pathways enable pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) embryos to achieve high efficiency of oil biosynthesis

Abstract Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) accumulates oil up to 35% of the total seed biomass, and its overall fatty acid composition is suitable for aviation fuel. However, for this plant to become economically viable, its oil production needs to be improved. In vivo culture conditions that resemble the development of pennycress embryos in planta were developed based on the composition of the liquid endosperm. Then, substrate uptake rates and biomass accumulation were measured from cultured pennycress embryos, revealing a biosynthetic efficiency of 93%, which is one of the highest in comparison with other oilseeds to date. Additionally, the ratio of carbon in oil to CO2 indicated that non-conventional pathways are likely to be responsible for such a high carbon conversion efficiency. To identify the reactions enabling this phenomenon, parallel labeling experiments with 13C-labeled substrates were conducted in pennycress embryos. The main findings of these labeling experiments include: (i) the occurrence of the oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway in the cytosol; (ii) the reversibility of isocitrate dehydrogenase; (iii) the operation of the plastidic NADP-dependent malic enzyme; and (iv) the refixation of CO2 by Rubisco. These reactions are key providers of carbon and reductant for fatty acid synthesis and elongation.

13C-labeling↗

DOE OSTI2021

Development of High-Performance Ni-base Alloys for Gas Turbine Wheels Using a Coprecipitation Approach (Final Technical Report)

In this project, a synergistic approach involving experiments informed by modelling was used to develop γ'/γ'' coprecipitation-strengthened Ni-base superalloys for land-based gas turbine wheels. In thick sections of such turbine wheels, the slow cooling rate normally observed, as well as variations in cooling rate could potentially result in drastically inhomogeneous and coarsened microstructure. Thus, ten alloy compositions were selected based on coprecipitation and sluggish γ’ growth and coarsening during three iterations of alloy development, assisted by extensive CALPHAD modeling. Phase equilibrium calculations, informed by the characterization of early alloys, were successful in predicting suitable aging treatments to obtain bimodal coprecipitate distribution in several alloys. These aging treatments were applied to the subsequent round of alloys and the resulting microstructures were characterized in detail. Two different cooling rates were used during each of these heat treatments to simulate the range of cooling rates observed in a thick section forging. The microstructures were used to calibrate a multi-phase field model (MPF), which was used to study the formation mechanisms of various coprecipitate morphologies observed in the experiments. Following this, the most promising alloys in each round were selected and studied using high temperature tensile and creep tests. Considering that a slower cooling rate would lead to a strength debit, while a faster cooling rate might lead to a decline in creep rupture life of a full-scale wheel, tensile tests were carried out for slower cooled samples, while creep tests were carried out for faster cooled samples. The deformation microstructures were then characterized using advanced characterization techniques such as Diffraction Contrast-Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (DC-STEM) and Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging (ECCI). Further, a mean-field creep model was developed and calibrated using these experimental findings to predict long-term creep behavior of these coprecipitation-strengthened alloys.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1978

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.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Design and analysis of aerospace structures at elevated temperatures

An account is given of approaches that have emerged as useful in the incorporation of thermal loading considerations into advanced composite materials-based aerospace structural design practices. Sources of structural heating encompass not only propulsion system heat and aerodynamic surface heating at supersonic speeds, but the growing possibility of intense thermal fluxes from directed-energy weapons. The composite materials in question range from intrinsically nonheat-resistant polymer matrix systems to metal-matrix composites, and increasingly to such ceramic-matrix composites as carbon/carbon, which are explicitly intended for elevated temperature operation.

Chang, C. I.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Affordable Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic Composites Win 1995 R and D 100 Award

Affordable fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (AFReCC) with high strength and toughness, good thermal conductivity, thermal shock resistance, and oxidation resistance are needed for high-temperature structural applications. AFReCC materials will have various applications in advanced high-efficiency and high-performance engines: that is, the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT), space propulsion components, and land-based systems. For example, silicon-carbide-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites show promise for meeting the criteria of high strength, thermal conductivity, and toughness required for the HSCT combustor liner. AFReCC received R&D Magazine's prestigious R&D 100 Award in 1995. The fabrication process for these composites has three steps. In the first step, fiber preforms are made and chemical vapor infiltration is used to apply the desired interface coating on the fibers. This step also rigidizes the preform. The second step consists of resin infiltration, which after pyrolysis, yields an interconnected network of porous carbon as the matrix. In the final step of the process, the carbon-containing preform is infiltrated with molten silicon or silicon alloys in a furnace. This converts the carbon to silicon carbide leaving as little as 5 percent residual free silicon or refractory disilicide phase. This process is suitable for any type of small-diameter fiber (e.g., carbon, alumina, or silicon carbide) woven into a two- or three-dimensional architecture. This processing approach leads to dense composites where matrix microstructure and composition can be tailored for optimum properties. It has much lower processing cost (less than 50 percent) in comparison to other approaches to fabricating silicon-carbide-based composites. The photograph shows the various AFReCC components. Thermomechanical and thermochemical characterization of these composites under the hostile environments that will be encountered in engine applications is underway.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS2004

Ground-Based VIS/NIR Reflectance Spectra of 25143 Itokawa: What Hayabusa will See and How Ground-Based Data can Augment Analyses

Planning for the arrival of the Hayabusa spacecraft at asteroid 25143 Itokawa includes consideration of the expected spectral information to be obtained using the AMICA and NIRS instruments. The rotationally-resolved spatial coverage the asteroid we have obtained with ground-based telescopic spectrophotometry in the visible and near-infrared can be utilized here to address expected spacecraft data. We use spectrophotometry to simulate the types of data that Hayabusa will receive with the NIRS and AMICA instruments, and will demonstrate them here. The NIRS will cover a wavelength range from 0.85 m, and have a dispersion per element of 250 Angstroms. Thus, we are limited in coverage of the 1.0 micrometer and 2.0 micrometer mafic silicate absorption features. The ground-based reflectance spectra of Itokawa show a large component of olivine in its surface material, and the 2.0 micrometer feature is shallow. Determining the olivine to pyroxene abundance ratio is critically dependent on the attributes of the 1.0- and 2.0 micrometer features. With a cut-off near 2,1 micrometer the longer edge of the 2.0- feature will not be obtained by NIRS. Reflectance spectra obtained using ground-based telescopes can be used to determine the regional composition around space-based spectral observations, and possibly augment the longer wavelength spectral attributes. Similarly, the shorter wavelength end of the 1.0 micrometer absorption feature will be partially lost to the NIRS. The AMICA filters mimic the ECAS filters, and have wavelength coverage overlapping with the NIRS spectral range. We demonstrate how merging photometry from AMICA will extend the spectral coverage of the NIRS. Lessons learned from earlier spacecraft to asteroids should be considered.

Vilas, Faith↗

NASA NTRS2010

Microscopic Scale Simulation of the Ablation of Fibrous Materials

This slide presentation reviews the ablation by oxidation of carbon-fiber preforms impregnated in carbonized phenolic-formaldehyde matrix is modeled at microscopic scale. Direct numerical simulations show that the matrix ablates in volume leaving the carbon fibers exposed. This is due to the fact that the reactivity of carbonized phenolics is higher than the reactivity of carbon fibers. After the matrix is depleted, the fibers ablate showing progressive reduction of their diameter. The overall material recession occurs when the fibers are consumed. Two materials with the same carbon-fiber preform, density and chemical composition, but with different matrix distributions are studied. These studies show that at moderate temperatures (< 1000K) the microstructure of the material influences its recession rate; a fact that is not captured by current models that are based on chemical composition only. Surprisingly, the response of these impregnated-fiber materials is weakly dependent on the microstructure at very high temperatures (e.g., Stardust peak heating conditions: 3360K).

Lachaud, Jean↗

NASA NTRS2010

Microscopic Scale Simulation of the Ablation of Fibrous Materials

Ablation by oxidation of carbon-fiber preforms impregnated in carbonized phenolic matrix is modeled at microscopic scale. Direct numerical simulations show that the carbonized phenolic matrix ablates in volume leaving the carbon fibers exposed. This is due to the fact that the reactivity of carbonized phenolic is higher than the reactivity of carbon fibers. After the matrix is depleted, the fibers ablate showing progressive reduction of their diameter. The overall material recession occurs when the fibers are consumed. Two materials with the same carbon-fiber preform, density and chemical composition, but with different matrix distributions are studied. These studies show that at moderate temperatures (< 1000 K) the microstructure of the material influences its recession rate; a fact that is not captured by current models that are based on chemical composition only. Surprisingly, the response of these impregnated-fiber materials is weakly dependent on the microstructure at very high temperatures (e.g., Stardust peak heating conditions: 3360K).

Lachaud, Jean Romain↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Multiscale Simulation of Deployable Composite Structures

In this paper, a multiscale simulation method for analyzing deployable composite structures is presented. Effective shell properties of the composites are obtained based on Mechanics of Structure Genome (MSG) homogenization, and then implemented into a user-subroutine UGENS for structural simulation with shell elements in Abaqus. The column bending test(CBT) of a flat thin flexure and lenticular composite boom in a simplified deployer structure are studied for demonstration. A viscoelastic material model with direct integration is adopted in this paper. The CBT simulation shows good agreement with experiments during relaxation, while errors are observed when comparing residual deformation. It is shown that this CBT model can be calibrated to CBT test results. For the lenticular boom analysis, the complete process of flattening, coiling, stowage, deployment and recovery is simulated with the viscoelastic shell model.

Finite element analysis↗

DOE OSTI2022

Activity-based protein profiling identifies alternating activation of enzymes involved in the bifidobacterium shunt pathway or mucin degradation in the gut microbiome response to soluble dietary fiber

While deprivation of dietary fiber has been associated with adverse health outcomes, investigations concerning the effect of dietary fiber on the gut microbiome have been largely limited to compositional sequence-based analyses or utilize a defined microbiota not native to the host. To extend understanding of the microbiome’s functional response to dietary fiber deprivation beyond correlative evidence from sequence-based analyses, approaches capable of measuring functional enzymatic activity are needed. In this study, we use an activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) approach to identify sugar metabolizing and transport proteins in native mouse gut microbiomes that respond with differential activity to the deprivation or supplementation of the soluble dietary fibers inulin and pectin. We found that the microbiome of mice subjected to a high fiber diet high in soluble fiber had increased functional activity of multiple proteins, including glycoside hydrolases, polysaccharide lyases, and sugar transport proteins from diverse taxa. The results point to an increase in activity of the Bifidobacterium shunt metabolic pathway in the microbiome of mice fed high fiber diets. In those subjected to a low fiber diet, we identified a shift from the degradation of dietary fibers to that of gut mucins, in particular by the recently isolated taxon “Musculibacterium intestinale”, which experienced dramatic growth in response to fiber deprivation. When combined with metabolomics and shotgun metagenomics analyses, our findings provide a functional investigation of dietary fiber metabolism in the gut microbiome and demonstrates the power of a combined ABPP-multiomics approach for characterizing the response of the gut microbiome to perturbations.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2021

Investigations of radiation damaged arranged scintillating particle composites

Composites consisting of periodically arranged scintillating particles within an acrylic (poly methyl methacrylate) matrix are excellent templates for the gamma-insensitive detection of fast neutrons. In order to study the impact of radiation damage on acrylic-based scintillating particle composites, we exposed acrylic samples to different doses of fast neutrons up to 119.7 kGy and investigated the change in optical characteristics using optical absorption spectroscopy in the 200–800 nm wavelength range. The experimental results are compared to coupled MCNP6 and optical ray-tracing (FRED) simulations, and qualitative agreement is found. Neutron-induced radiation damage in the acrylic matrix manifests as a red-shift in the ultra-violet absorption edge of the acrylic and a corresponding decrease in the light propagation efficiency, which leads to detector performance degradation. We show for the first time that the effects of radiation damage can be mitigated by the use of wavelength-shifting coatings. We predict that composites with wavelength-shifting coatings can enable neutron detectors with high tolerance against neutron-induced radiation damage, a property that is particularly desired for neutron detection in high radiation environments.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗