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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 1,243 records · Page 69

Coatings in space environment

The behavior in space environment of evaporated Al uncoated and coated with reactively deposited silicon oxide (SiOx), electron beam evaporated SiO2 and Al2O3, and Al and Ag coated with double layers of Al2O3 + SiOx is compared with metallized Teflon and Kapton, anodized Al (Alzak), and white paints. Flight data from three calorimetric experiments and one reflectometer flown in different orbital environments are compared with laboratory test data. The results demonstrate that evaporated thin films are extremely versatile and stable coatings for space applications. Through the use of control samples studied in different laboratory tests and monitored for up to 12,000 hours of solar exposure in different orbits, a classification of orbital severity and an estimate of laboratory simulation accuracy is obtained.

Triolo, J. J.↗

The role of computational chemistry in the science and measurements of the atmosphere

The role of computational chemistry in determining the stability, photochemistry, spectroscopic parameters, and parameters for estimating reaction rates of atmospheric constituents is discussed. Examples dealing with the photolysis cross sections of HOCl and (1 Delta g) O2 and with the stability of gaseous NH4Cl and asymmetric ClO3 are presented. It is concluded that computational chemistry can play an important role in the study of atmospheric constituents, particularly reactive and short-lived species which are difficult to investigate experimentally.

Phillips, D. H.↗

Stratospheric trace gas sampling with chemical absorption filters

Recent interest in stratospheric chemistry, sparked in part by the suggested roles of atomic chlorine (Cl) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the catalytic destruction of ozone (O3), has made sampling and measurement of trace constituents above the tropopause highly desirable. An ongoing research program in the In Situ Studies Project at the National Center for Atmospheric Research carries out aircraft and balloon-borne stratospheric chemical sampling at regular intervals by using chemically impregnated filters to collect particles and reactive gases.

Bonelli, J. E.↗

Possible existence and role of excited ozone precursors in the stratosphere

Laboratory kinetic experiments, quantum theoretical studies and certain recently discovered infrared emissions from the stratosphere together imply the possible existence of a metastable, energetic, and reactive form of ozone in the upper atmosphere. This species can potentially affect the upper atmospheric photochemistry and heat balance. For these reasons there is a need for further quantum theoretical and laboratory chemical kinetic studies addressing some of the relevant properties of the internally excited ozone precursors.

Prasad, S. S.↗

Age of graben systems on the moon

The study focuses on the time of formation of the graben. An attempt is made to determine whether the graben are restricted to geologic units of certain ages, and whether and at what time graben formation ceased. It is shown that (1) most preserved graben formed considerably later than the impacts that formed the basins; (2) graben are faults that are reactivated along older basin concentric and radial structures and lunar grid directions; (3) graben formation ceased about 3.6 + or - 0.2 b.y. ago; and (4) graben formation reflects a tensile stress fields that obtained during part of early lunar history. Other features of graben systems on the moon are also identified.

Lucchitta, B. K.↗

Reaction between nitric oxide and ozone in solid nitrogen

Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, is produced when nitric oxide, NO, and ozone, O3, are suspended in a nitrogen matrix at 11-20 K. The NO2 is formed with first-order kinetics, a 12 K rate constant of (1.4 + or - 0.2) x 0.00001/sec, and an apparent activation energy of 106 + or - 10 cal/mol. Isotopic labeling, variation of concentrations, and cold shield experiments show that the growth of NO2 is due to reaction between ozone molecules and NO monomers, and that the reaction is neither infrared-induced nor does it seem to be a heavy atom tunneling process. Reaction is attributed to nearest-neighbor NO.O3 pairs probably held in a specific orientational relationship that affects the kinetic behavior. When the temperature is raised, more such reactive pairs are generated, presumably by local diffusion. Possible mechanisms are discussed.

Lucas, D.↗

Rat reaction to hypokinesia after prior adaptation to hypoxia

The effect of prior hypoxia adaptation on body tolerance to hypokinesia was investigated. Rats trained to a 50 day period of hypokinesia and hypoxia with a preliminary month of adaptation to hypoxia showed less weight loss, higher indices for red blood content, heightened reactivity of the overall organism and the central nervous system to acute hypoxia, and decreased modification of the skeletal muscles compared to rats subjected to hypokinesia alone.

Barashova, Z. I.↗

Novel approaches for alleviation of electrical hazards of graphite-fiber composites

Four basically different approaches were considered: gasification of fibers, retention in the matrix, clumping to prevent entrainment, and electrical insulation of fibers. The techniques used to achieve them are described in some detail. These involved surface treatment of fibers to improve the wettability of fibers and coating the fibers with the selected substances before laying them up for composite fabrication. Thermogravimetric analyses were performed on the plain and treated fibers in inert (nitrogen, argon) and reactive (air) atmospheres. The treated fibers embedded in epoxy were ignited in a Bunsen flame to determine the efficiency of these treatments. A simple apparatus was assembled to detect the time for the first short circuit (in a typical electrical circuit) when exposed to the combustion products from a graphite fiber composite fire. The state-of-the-art and treated fibers cast in typical epoxy were burned and ranked for potential success. It was inferred that the gasification schemes appear promising when reduction or oxidation is tried. It was also found that some very promising candidates were available for the clumping and for the electrical insulation of fibers.

Ramohalli, K.↗

Program of research in severe storms

Two modeling areas, the development of a mesoscale chemistry-meteorology interaction model, and the development of a combined urban chemical kinetics-transport model are examined. The problems associated with developing a three dimensional combined meteorological-chemical kinetics computer program package are defined. A similar three dimensional hydrostatic real time model which solves the fundamental Navier-Stokes equations for nonviscous flow is described. An urban air quality simulation model, developed to predict the temporal and spatial distribution of reactive and nonreactive gases in and around an urban area and to support a remote sensor evaluation program is reported.

Source record↗

Introductory study of the chemical behavior of jet emissions in photochemical smog

Jet aircraft emissions data from the literature were used as initial conditions for a series of computer simulations of photochemical smog formation in static air. The chemical kinetics mechanism used in these simulations was an updated version which contains certain parameters designed to account for hydrocarbon reactivity. These parameters were varied to simulate the reaction rate constants and average carbon numbers associated with the jet emissions. The roles of surface effects, variable light sources, NO/NO2 ratio, continuous emissions, and untested mechanistic parameters were also assessed. The results of these calculations indicate that the present jet emissions are capable of producing oxidant by themselves. The hydrocarbon/nitrous oxides ratio of present jet aircraft emissions is much higher than that of automobiles. These two ratios appear to bracket the hydrocarbon/nitrous oxides ratio that maximizes ozone production. Hence an enhanced effect is seen in the simulation when jet exhaust emissions are mixed with automobile emissions.

Whitten, G. Z.↗

A regional technology transfer program

The proliferation of online searching capabilities among its industrial clients, changes in marketing staff and direction, use of Dun and Bradstreet marketing service files, growth of the Annual Service Package program, and services delivered to clients at the NASA funded North Carolina Science and Technology Research Center are described. The library search service was reactivated and enlarged, and a survey was conducted on the NC/STRC Technical Bulletin's effectiveness. Several quotations from clients assess the overall value of the Center's services.

Source record↗

Tackifier for addition polyimides

A modification to the addition polyimide, LaRC-160, was prepared to improve tack and drape and increase prepeg out-time. The essentially solventless, high viscosity laminating resin is synthesized from low cost liquid monomers. The modified version takes advantage of a reactive, liquid plasticizer which is used in place of solvent and helps solve a major problem of maintaining good prepeg tack and drape, or the ability of the prepeg to adhere to adjacent plies and conform to a desired shape during the lay up process. This alternate solventless approach allows both longer life of the polymer prepeg and the processing of low void laminates. This approach appears to be applicable to all addition polyimide systems.

Butler, J. M.↗

Survey of ion plating sources

Ion plating is a plasma deposition technique where ions of the gas and the evaporant have a decisive role in the formation of a coating in terms of adherence, coherence, and morphological growth. The range of materials that can be ion plated is predominantly determined by the selection of the evaporation source. Based on the type of evaporation source, gaseous media and mode of transport, the following will be discussed: resistance, electron beam sputtering, reactive and ion beam evaporation. Ionization efficiencies and ion energies in the glow discharge determine the percentage of atoms which are ionized under typical ion plating conditions. The plating flux consists of a small number of energetic ions and a large number of energetic neutrals. The energy distribution ranges from thermal energies up to a maximum energy of the discharge. The various reaction mechanisms which contribute to the exceptionally strong adherence - formation of a graded substrate/coating interface are not fully understood, however the controlling factors are evaluated. The influence of process variables on the nucleation and growth characteristics are illustrated in terms of morphological changes which affect the mechanical and tribological properties of the coating.

Spalvins, T.↗

Sputtering in mercury ion thrusters

Ground-based tests of Hg ion thrusters have identified sputter erosion of thruster components as one of the main life limiting phenomena. Subsequent measurements have revealed that sputtering rates can be affected by background gases at pressures as low as 10 to the -10th torr. With the recent interest in thin film technology, sputtering in the presence of reactive gases has been studied in great detail. This paper presents the results of many of those studies and applies them to the sputtering of electric thrusters. A model, which assumes that chemisorption is the dominant mechanism, is applied to the sputtering rate measurements of the screen grid of a 30-cm thruster in the presence of nitrogen. The model utilizes inputs from a variety of experimental and analytical sources. The model of environmental effects on sputtering was applied to thruster conditions of low discharge voltage and a discussion of the comparison of theory and experiment is presented.

Mantenieks, M. A.↗

Driving of combustor oscillations by gaseous propellant injectors

Measurements of reactive admittances that describe the capabilities of the combustion processes associated with coaxial gaseous fuel injectors to amplify combustor oscillations are presented. These admittances are needed in (1) stability analyses of rocket motors and gas turbine combustors; (2) for the evaluation of 'driving' capabilities of injectors; and (3) for checking the applicability of a theoretical model. The modified standing-wave technique was used to determine the admittances of the combustion processes in coaxial injectors utilizing air-acetylene mixtures. The measurements indicated that (1) coaxial injectors can sustain combustion instabilities over wide frequency ranges; (2) the maximum driving capability of an injector decreases with an increased equivalence ratio; (3) the frequency at which maximum driving is observed decreases with the increased equivalence ratio; and (4) the characteristic combustion time of an injector design decreases with increased frequency.

Janardan, B. A.↗

F + H2 collisions on two electronic potential energy surfaces - Quantum-mechanical study of the collinear reaction

Collinear quantum calculations are carried out for reactive F + H2 collisions on two electronic potential energy surfaces. The resulting transmission and reflection probabilities exhibit much greater variation with energy than single-surface studies would lead us to anticipate. Transmission to low-lying product channels is increased by orders of magnitude by the presence of the second surface; however, branching ratios among product states are found to be independent of the initial electronic state of the reactants. These apparently contradictory aspects of the calculation are discussed and a tentative explanation put forward to resolve them.

Zimmerman, I. H.↗

Pressure and temperature dependence kinetics study of the NO + BrO yielding NO2 + Br reaction - Implications for stratospheric bromine photochemistry

The reactivity of NO with BrO radicals over a wide range of pressure (100-700 torr) and temperature (224-398 K) is investigated using the flash photolysis-ultraviolet absorption technique. The flash photolysis system consists of a high-pressure xenon arc light source, a reaction cell/gas filter/flash lamp combination, and a 216.5 half-meter monochromator/polychromator/spectrography for wavelength selectivity. The details of the reaction and its corresponding Arrhenius expression are identified. The results are compared with previous measurements, and atmospheric implications of the reaction are discussed. The NO + BrO yielding NO2 + Br reaction is shown to be important in controlling the concentration ratios of BrO/Br and BrO/HBr in the stratosphere, but this reaction does not affect the catalytic efficiency of BrOx in ozone destruction.

Watson, R. T.↗

Interfacial reactions in borsic/Ti-3Al-2-1/2V composite

The paper provides a detailed X-ray characterization of a borsic/Ti-3Al-2-1/2V composite, and to correlate the relative intensities of the reaction products with the mechanical properties. Based on X-ray integrated intensity data two stages of interface reactions were identified: during the first stage there is a simultaneous interdiffusion of Si, C, and Ti atoms at the filament/matrix interface resulting in the formation of Ti5Si3, TiSi and small amounts of TiSi2 and TiC. The second stage is associated with considerable TiSi2 and boride formation. It appears that the alpha-phase of Ti is more reactive in forming silicides and borides than the beta-phase. The silicide intensities and the reaction zone thicknesses are shown to be directly related to the reduction of the ultimate tensile strength by thermal degradation, and the results indicate that silicide reaction products are as detrimental to strength as the borides.

Rao, V. B.↗