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At least 1,333 records · Page 74

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NASA NTRS1982

Application of microgravity and containerless environments to the investigation of fusion target fabrication technology

After the first observation of the core-centering force within a liquid shell in the KC-135 flight experiment, this force was successfully reproduced in terrestrial laboratories using two experimental techniques. The core-centering force generated for a compound drop system in the neutral buoyancy tank provides the first correlation between theoretical and experimental results. When this force was generated in a more realistic fusion-pellet system using the focusing-radiator levitating system, it was shown that this is a very strong force indeed in view of the fact that the ratio of specific gravities between the water and the core is approximately five. It is believed that this centering force will contribute significantly to an overall understanding of the fabrication physics of a fusion target system. Results from experiments in a vertical drag-free wind tunnel and in a 16-ft low pressure drop furnace suggest that eliminating or reducing the aerodynamic drag on fusion pellets during their formation stage will prevent the decentering of the bubble. Metallic and metallic glass fusion targets are seen as holding promise for improving and simplifying the fabrication process for ablative-type fusion targets.

Lee, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Directional solidification and characterization of Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te alloys

A series of Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te alloy crystals was grown by high temperature gradient directional solidification at furnace translation rates ranging from 0.068 to 1.12 microns/s. For several ingots, the measured longitudinal compositional profiles were fitted to theoretical profiles to estimate the magnitude of D, the liquid HgTe-CdTe interdiffusion coefficient. The best-fit value of D was about 550,000 sq cm/s. The majority of the ingots showed significant radial compositional variations along the growth axis. These variations are attributed, at least in part, to fluid flows ahead of the growth interface. The results are discussed in terms of the heat transfer characteristics of the alloy/ampule/furnace system, and on the effects of these characteristics on the shape and stability of the growth interface in a 1-g environment.

Lehoczky, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Response of MnBi-Bi eutectic to freezing rate changes

Reference is made to a study by Fu and Wilcox (1981), which treated theoretically the influence on freezing rate of sudden changes in translation rate in the Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. This treatment is extended here to a linear ramped translation rate and an oscillatory freezing rate. It is found that oscillations above a few hertz are highly damped in small-diameter apparatus. An experimental test is carried out of the theoretical predictions for a sudden change of translation rate. The MnBi-Bi eutectic is solidified with current-induced interface demarcation. The experimental results accord reasonably well with theory if the silica ampoule wall is assumed to either (1) contribute only a resistance to heat exchange between the sample and the furnace wall or (2) transmit heat effectively in the axial direction by radiation. In an attempt to explain the fact that a finer microstructure is obtained in space, MnBi-Bi microstructure is determined when the freezing rate is increased or decreased rapidly. Preliminary results suggest that fiber branching does not occur as readily as fiber termination.

Nair, M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Low gravity solidification structures in the tin-15 wt pct lead and tin-3 wt pct bismuth alloys

The tin-15 wt pct lead and tin-3 wt pct bismuth alloys have been solidified in the low-gravity environment provided by the Space Processing Applications Rocket (SPAR), on the KC-135 airplane, and at high 'g' levels in a centrifuge furnace. In each case the resultant cast structure was significantly different from that obtained in ground based experiments. Earlier low-gravity studies with the metal-model system NH4Cl-H2O presaged these results. This paper presents and discusses the influence of changes in the gravity force on the grain structure of these materials.

Johnston, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Effect of variable thermal conductivity on isotherms in Bridgman growth

A change in thermal conductivity associated with melting or solidification can have a profound influence on the isotherms near the solidification interface if the material is being directionally solidified in an ampoule whose walls carry a substantial portion of the heat. This analysis was prompted by a recent discovery that the thermal conductivity of Hg(1-x)CD(x)Te increased dramatically as the material is heated above the solidus curve. An illustrative example is shown in which the sample is approximated as an infinite cylinder with constant but diffferent thermal properties in the solid and melt. The boundary conditions are fixed on the surface by a conductive ampoule in a two-zone Bridgman furnace with an adiabatic region separating the two zones. The effect of the adiabatic zone in this case is to intensify the curvature of the interface rather than to lessen it.

Naumann, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Two-Crucible Czochralski Process

Scheme for continuous melt replenishment increases capacity of Czochralski crystal-growing furnace. Replenishing and drawing crucibles of improved Czochralski apparatus connected by heated quartz siphon. When doped silicon added to replenishing crucible, liquid silicon flows into drawing crucible, equalizing two melt levels. Addition of new material automatically controlled in response to optically sensed melt level. Results of this semicontinuous operation higher production speed, lower cost, and good control of crystal quality.

Fiegl, G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Production Line for Dendritic-Web Solar Cells

Direct inclusion of web-growth furnaces in production line expected to result in lower costs than current production processes using silicon wafers sliced from Czochralski boules. Silicon-web input capacity of line is 0.5 m2/min, which corresponds to total peak-power output of about 25 MW for 1 year of production. Line employs about 18 production people per shift and requires about 3,650 square feet of floorspace.

Page, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Lightweight High-Temperature Thermal Insulation

Fine Ni/Cr fibers sintered into corrosion-resistant, fireproof batt. Possible applications include stoves, furnaces, safes, fire clothing, draperies in public buildings, wall firebreaks, airplane walls, and jetengine components. New insulation takes advantage of some of same properties of nickel/chromium alloy useful in heating elements in toasters, namely, corrosion and oxidation resistance even at high temperatures.

Wagner, W. R.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Reusable Thermal Barrier for Insulation Gaps

Filler composed of resilient, heat-resistant materials. Thermal barrier nestles snugly in gap between two tiles with minimal protrusion beyond faces of surrounding tiles. When removed from gap, barrier springs back to nearly original shape. Developed for filling spaces between tiles on Space Shuttle, also used in furnaces and kilns.

Saladee, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Contoured Orifice for Silicon-Ribbon Die

Die configuration encourages purity and stable growth. Contour of die orifice changes near ribbon edges. As result, silicon ribbon has nearly constant width and little carbon contamination. Die part of furnace being developed to produce high-quality, low-cost material for solar cells.

Mackintosh, B. H.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Bonding Heat-Resistant Fabric to Tile

Acid etching, densification, and silica cement ensure strong bond. Key step in preparation for bonding to glazed tile is etching quartz fabric and tile with acid. This increases adhesion of silica cement used to form bond. Procedures use high-temperature materials exclusively and therefore suitable for securing flexible seals and heat barriers around doors and viewing ports in furnaces and kilns.

Holt, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Method of manufacturing ceramic shaped articles

A method of manufacturing ceramic shaped articles, wherein tapes of ceramic powder material in mixture with a binder material and special additives are shaped and then articles are stamped out from said tapes and sintered in a sintering furnace is described.

Inoue, K.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The control of float zone interfaces by the use of selected boundary conditions

The main goal of the float zone crystal growth project of NASA's Materials Processing in Space Program is to thoroughly understand the molten zone/freezing crystal system and all the mechanisms that govern this system. The surface boundary conditions required to give flat float zone solid melt interfaces were studied and computed. The results provide float zone furnace designers with better methods for controlling solid melt interface shapes and for computing thermal profiles and gradients. Documentation and a user's guide were provided for the computer software.

Foster, L. M.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The preparation of BP single crystals by high pressure flux method

Single crystals of BP, a III-V compound semiconductor, were obtained by the high pressure flux method. Cu3P and Ni12P5 powders were used as the flux, and mixed with BP powder. Two kinds of mixtures were prepared: (1) 1.8g (BP) + 35 G (Cu3P) and (2) 1.7 g (BP) + 25 g (Ni12P5). They were compressed into pellets, heated at 1300 C for 24 h in an induction furnace under a pressure of 1 MPa using Ar-P2 gas, and slowly cooled to room temperature. In case (1), BP single crystals grew along the (III) plane, and in case (2) they grew as an aggregate of crystallites. The cathodoluminescence spectra of the synthetic BP crystals showed peaks near 680 nm (1.82 eV) for case (1), and 500 nm (2.47 eV) for case (2). By using the high pressure flux method conventional sized crystals were obtained in a relatively short time.

Kumashiro, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Solubility of hydrogen in metals and its effect of pore-formation and embrittlement

The effect of alloying elements on hydrogen solubility were determined by evaluating solubility equations and interaction coefficients. The solubility of dry hydrogen at one atmosphere was investigated in liquid aluminum, Al-Ti, Al-Si, Al-Fe, liquid gold, Au-Cu, and Au-Pd. The design of rapid heating and high pressure casting furnaces used in meta foam experiments is discussed as well as the mechanism of precipitation of pores in melts, and the effect of hydrogen on the shrinkage porosity of Al-Cu and Al-Si alloys. Hydrogen embrittlement in iron base alloys is also examined.

Shahani, H. R.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Ultralight reactive metal foams produced as structural shapes in space: System design

This autonomous experiment for foaming metals in space involved: (1) payload support structure; (2) furnace and foaming apparatus; (3) electronic controls; (4) battery power; and (5) metallurgy. Emphasis was laid on a modular design which was easily modifiable and which offered maximum durability, safety, and failure tolerance.

Cocks, F. H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Stress studies in EFG

Experimental work in support of stress studies in high speed silicon sheet growth has been emphasized in this quarter. Creep experiments utilizing four-point bending have been made in the temperature range from 1000 C to 1360 C in CZ silicon as well as on EFG ribbon. A method to measure residual stress over large areas using laser interferometry to map strain distributions under load is under development. A fiber optics sensor to measure ribbon temperature profiles has been constructed and is being tested in a ribbon growth furnace environment. Stress and temperature field modeling work has been directed toward improving various aspects of the finite element computing schemes. Difficulties in computing stress distributions with a very high creep intensity and with non-zero interface stress have been encountered and additional development of the numerical schemes to cope with these problems is required. Temperature field modeling has been extended to include the study of heat transfer effects in the die and meniscus regions.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1983

Evaporation and combustion of sprays

A description is provided of recent spray evaporation and combustion models, taking into account turbulent two- and three-dimensional spray processes found in furnaces, gas turbine combustors, and internal combustion engines. Within the class of spray models of interest, two major categories are distinguished, including locally homogeneous flow (LHF) models and separated flow (SF) models. SF models are of the greatest practical importance, but LHF models have distinct advantages in some cases. Attention is also given to recent progress on modeling interactions between drops and the flow in both dilute and dense sprays, involving sprays having low and high liquid volume fractions, respectively.

Faeth, G. M.↗