SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Iron alloy strengthening by fine beryllium oxide particle dispersion, and fracture and tensile deformation of dispersioned strengthened alloys
Manufacturing process for large diameter carbon base monofilaments by chemical vapor deposition
Performance evaluation of two real time operating systems using simulation models
Lithium-doped solar cell fabrication techniques, and statistical analysis of electrical output
Production of small diameter refractory metal alloy wires for superalloy reinforcement
The A-type polyimide adhesive resin P11B was modified by use of mixed diamines (thio-dianiline and meta phenylene diamine) which provided the desired autoclave processability. This new resin was termed P11BA. It was shown that copolymeric blends of P11BA and Amoco AI-1137 amide-imide resin provided improved adhesive properties when autoclave processed over the properties obtained previously by press bonding with P11B based copolymeric blended adhesives. Properties of bonded assemblies are presented for long-term aging at both elevated and low temperatures, and also stress-rupture tests at elevated temperature.
Parallel image processing which is defined as image processing where all points of an image are operated upon simultaneously is discussed. Coherent optical, noncoherent optical, and electronic methods are considered parallel image processing techniques.
Large diameter, carbon-carbon composite, monofilaments were produced from the pyrolysis of organic precursor resins reinforced with high-strenght carbon fibers. The mechanical properties were measured before and after pyrolysis and the results were correlated with the properties of the constituents. The composite resulting from the combination of Thornel 75 and GW-173 resin precursor produced the highest tensile strength. The importance of matching strain-to-failure of fibers and matrix to obtain all the potential reinforcement of fibers is discussed. Methods are described to reduce, within the carbonaceous matrix, pyrolysis flaws which tend to reduce the composite strength. Preliminary studies are described which demonstrated the feasibility of fiber-matrix copyrolysis to alleviate matrix cracking and provide an improved matrix-fiber interfacial bonding.
Silicon carbide (SiC) ribbon filaments were produced on a carbon ribbon substrate, about 1500 microns (60 mils) wide and 100 microns (4 mils) thick in lengths up to 2 meters (6 ft), and with tensile strengths up to 142 KN/cm sq (206 Ksi). During the course of the study, ribbon filaments of boron were also produced on the carbon ribbon substrate; the boron ribbon produced was extremely fragile. The tensile strength of the SiC ribbon was limited by large growths or flaws caused by anomalies at the substrate surface; these anomalies were either foreign dirt or substrate imperfections or both. Related work carried out on round 100 micron (4 mils) diameter SiC filaments on a 33 micron (1.3 mil) diameter, very smooth carbon monofilament substrate has shown that tensile strengths as high as 551 KN/cm sq (800 Ksi) are obtainable with the SiC-carbon round substrate combination, and indicates that if the ribbon substrate surface and ribbon deposition process can be improved similar strengths can be realizable. Cost analysis shows that 100 micron x 5-10 micron SiC ribbon can be very low cost reinforcement material.
A ribbon-shaped boron filament with a tensile strength of 138 KN/sq cm (200 ksi) was investigated. The investigation was carried out using both carbon and tungsten as substrate materials. No satisfactory results were obtained utilizing uncoated, copper-plated or silicon carbide coated tungsten ribbon substrates. Carbon ribbon substrates were prepared by pyrolysis of stretched polyimide tape. A severe deposition gradient occurred in all dc reactor experiments due to convective cooling at the edge of the substrate that resulted in a weak, nonuniform filament. RF heating, however, completely eliminated this gradient problem and a 90 cm (35.5 in.) long boron ribbon was produced at .85 cm/sec (100 ft/hr) using a frequency of 40.68 megahertz. This boron ribbon, however, exhibited a light-bulb effect during deposition to 59 KN/sq cm (85.7 ksi) were obtained from this ribbon. Several silicon carbide ribbon shaped filaments were also produced during this investigation by decomposition of CH3SiHCl2 onto carbon substrates. Contrary to the boron work, silicon carbide ribbon was readily prepared in dc static reactors. A very uniform and smooth deposition was obtained with strengths up to 71.1 KN/sq cm (103.5 ksi).
The process of geometric parameter estimation to accuracies of one centimeter, i.e., multilateration, is defined and applications are listed. A brief functional explanation of the theory is presented. Next, various multilateration systems are described in order of increasing system complexity. Expected systems accuracy is discussed from a general point of view and a summary of the errors is listed. An outline of the design of a software processing system for multilateration, called MICRODOT, is presented next. The links of this software, which can be used for multilateration data simulations or operational data reduction, are examined on an individual basis. Functional flow diagrams are presented to aid in understanding the software capability. MICRODOT capability is described with respect to vehicle configurations, interstation coordinate reduction, geophysical parameter estimation, and orbit determination. Numerical results obtained from MICRODOT via data simulations are displayed both for hypothetical and real world vehicle/station configurations such as used in the GEOS-3 Project. These simulations show the inherent power of the multilateration procedure.
Thermal barrier coatings of yttria stabilized zirconia and zirconia-ceria mixtures were deposited by RF reactive sputtering. Coatings were 1-2 mils thick, and were deposited on copper cylinders intended to simulate the inner wall of a regeneratively cooled thrust chamber. Coating stoichiometry and adherence were investigated as functions of deposition parameters. Modest deposition rates (approximately 0.15 mil/hr) and subambient sustrate temperatures (-80 C) resulted in nearly stoichiometric coatings which remained adherent through thermal cycles between -196 and 400 C. Coatings deposited at higher rates or substrates temperatures exhibited greater oxygen deficiences, while coatings deposited at lower temperatures were not adherent. Substrate bias resulted in structural changes in the coating and high krypton contents; no clear effect on stoichiometry was observed.
Silicon tetrachloride and a reductant (sodium) will be injected into an arc heated mixture of hydrogen and argon, yielding silicon and gaseous sodium chloride. Detailed characterization of the Sonicore sodium injection nozzle, using water as the test fluid was completed. Results indicated that flow rates of 45 gph sodium and 50 scfm argon should produce sufficiently small droplet sizes. The design effort was also completed for the test system preparation which was divided into two categories: (1) system components and (2) test system-laboratory integration.
The electron irradiation conditions required to prepare thermally from stable high density polyethylene (HDPE) were defined. The conditions were defined by evaluating the heat of fusion and the melting temperature of several HDPE specimens. The performance tests conducted on the specimens, including the thermal cycling tests in the thermal energy storage unit are described. The electron beam irradiation tests performed on the specimens, in which the total radiation dose received by the pellets, the electron beam current, the accelerating potential, and the atmospheres were varied, are discussed.
The experimental verification system for the production of silicon via the arc heater-sodium reduction of SiCl4 was designed, fabricated, installed, and operated. Each of the attendant subsystems was checked out and operated to insure performance requirements. These subsystems included: the arc heaters/reactor, cooling water system, gas system, power system, Control & Instrumentation system, Na injection system, SiCl4 injection system, effluent disposal system and gas burnoff system. Prior to introducing the reactants (Na and SiCl4) to the arc heater/reactor, a series of gas only-power tests was conducted to establish the operating parameters of the three arc heaters of the system. Following the successful completion of the gas only-power tests and the readiness tests of the sodium and SiCl4 injection systems, a shakedown test of the complete experimental verification system was conducted.
The correlation between the yield of silicon microcircuits wafers versus defects observed in X-ray topographs produced by a high speed curved wafer X-ray topographic camera was investigated. Most of the topographs were made after final wafer probe. Results indicated that most high volume silicon wafer processing does not need X-ray topography as a routine process control. It is further indicated that in changing any existing process or developing a new process the technique can be of significant benefit.
Various Mo/Sn screen printing pastes were scheduled for evaluation. Cells are first prefired in air and then fired in a H2 atmosphere. Preliminary results are encouraging.
Solar cells without AR coating achieved efficiencies of 10.5% with the Type A Mo/Sn/TiH paste. Curve shape, series resistance, and shunt resistance are all excellent and comparable to silver paste controls. Other pastes were not successful.