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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2006

Hybrid Deployable Foam Antennas and Reflectors

Hybrid deployable radio antennas and reflectors of a proposed type would feature rigid narrower apertures plus wider adjoining apertures comprising reflective surfaces supported by open-cell polymeric foam structures (see figure). The open-cell foam structure of such an antenna would be compressed for compact stowage during transport. To initiate deployment of the antenna, the foam structure would simply be released from its stowage mechanical restraint. The elasticity of the foam would drive the expansion of the foam structure to its full size and shape. There are several alternatives for fabricating a reflective surface supported by a polymeric foam structure. One approach would be to coat the foam with a metal. Another approach would be to attach a metal film or a metal-coated polymeric membrane to the foam. Yet another approach would be to attach a metal mesh to the foam. The hybrid antenna design and deployment concept as proposed offers significant advantages over other concepts for deployable antennas: 1) In the unlikely event of failure to deploy, the rigid narrow portion of the antenna would still function, providing a minimum level of assured performance. In contrast, most other concepts for deploying a large antenna from compact stowage are of an "all or nothing" nature: the antenna is not useful at all until and unless it is fully deployed. 2) Stowage and deployment would not depend on complex mechanisms or actuators, nor would it involve the use of inflatable structures. Therefore, relative to antennas deployed by use of mechanisms, actuators, or inflation systems, this antenna could be lighter, cheaper, amenable to stowage in a smaller volume, and more reliable. An open-cell polymeric (e.g., polyurethane) foam offers several advantages for use as a compressible/expandable structural material to support a large antenna or reflector aperture. A few of these advantages are the following: 3) The open cellular structure is amenable to compression to a very small volume - typically to 1/20 of its full size in one dimension. 4) At a temperature above its glass-transition temperature (T(sub g)), the foam strongly damps vibrations. Even at a temperature below T(sub g), the damping should exceed that of other materials. 5) In its macroscopic mechanical properties, an open-cell foam is isotropic. This isotropy facilitates computational modeling of antenna structures. 6) Through chemical formulation, the T(sub g) of an open-cell polyurethane foam can be set at a desired value between about - 100 and about 0 C. Depending on the application, it may or may not be necessary to rigidify a foam structure after deployment. If rigidification is necessary, then the T(sub g) of the foam can be tailored to exceed the temperature of the deployment environment, in conjunction with providing a heater to elasticize the foam for deployment. Once deployed, the foam would become rigidified by cooling to below T(sub g). 7) Techniques for molding or machining polymeric foams (especially including open-cell polyurethane foams) to desired sizes and shapes are well developed.

Rivellini, Tommaso↗
NASA NTRS2004

Lightweight, Self-Deploying Foam Antenna Structures

Lightweight, deployable antennas for a variety of outer-space and terrestrial applications would be designed and fabricated according to the concept of cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) structures, according to a proposal. Mechanically deployable antennas now in use are heavy, complex, and unreliable, and they utilize packaging volume inefficiently. The proposed CHEM antenna structures would be simple and would deploy themselves without need for any mechanisms and, therefore, would be more reliable. The proposed CHEM antenna structures would also weigh less, could be packaged in smaller volumes, and would cost less, relative to mechanically deployable antennas. The CHEM concept was described in two prior NASA Tech Briefs articles: "Cold Hibernated Elastic Memory (CHEM) Expandable Structures" (NPO-20394), Vol. 23, No. 2 (February 1999), page 56; and "Solar Heating for Deployment of Foam Structures" (NPO-20961), Vol. 25, No. 10 (October 2001), page 36. To recapitulate from the cited prior articles: The CHEM concept is one of utilizing opencell foams of shape-memory polymers (SMPs) to make lightweight, reliable, simple, and inexpensive structures that can be alternately (1) compressed and stowed compactly or (2) expanded, then rigidified for use. A CHEM structure is fabricated at full size from a block of SMP foam in its glassy state [at a temperature below the glass-transition temperature (Tg) of the SMP]. The structure is heated to the rubbery state of the SMP (that is, to a temperature above Tg) and compacted to a small volume. After compaction, the structure is cooled to the glassy state of the SMP. The compacting force can then be released and the structure remains compact as long as the temperature is kept below Tg. Upon subsequent heating of the structure above Tg, the simultaneous elastic recovery of the foam and its shape-memory effect cause the structure to expand to its original size and shape. Once thus deployed, the structure can be rigidified by cooling below Tg. Once deployed and rigidified, the structure could be heated and recompacted. In principle, there should be no limit on the achievable number of compaction/deployment/ rigidification cycles. Thus far, several different designs of a 3.5-m-long CHEM conical corrugated horn antenna have been analyzed (see figure). A small CHEM structural antenna model was fabricated and a thin, electrically conductive layer of aluminum was deposited on the inner surface of the model. This structural model was then subjected to the compaction and deployment treatments described above to demonstrate the feasibility of a CHEM corrugated horn antenna.

Sokolowski, Witold↗
NASA NTRS2003

Foam Sensor Structures Would be Self-Deployable and Survive Hard Landings

A document proposes systems of sensors encased in cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) structures for exploring remote planets. Lightweight structures that can be compressed for storage and later expanded, then rigidified for use are made from foams of shape-memory polymers (SMPs). According to the instant proposal, a CHEM sensor structure would be fabricated at full size from SMP foam at a temperature below its glass-transition temperature (Tg). It would then be heated above Tg and compacted to a small volume, then cooled below Tg and kept below Tg during launch, flight, and landing. At landing, the inelastic yielding of the rigid compacted foam would absorb impact energy, thereby enabling the structure to survive the landing. The structure would then be solar heated above Tg, causing it to revert to its original size and shape. Finally, the structure would be rigidified by cooling it below Tg by the cold planetary or space environment. Besides surviving hard landing, this sensor system will provide a soft, stick-at-the-impact-site landing to access scientifically and commercially interesting sites, including difficult and hard-to-reach areas.

Sokolowski, Witold↗
DOE OSTI2023

Metal nanoparticle-decorated nanotubes for gas sensing

Disclosed herein are methods of producing metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes. The methods include forming a reaction mixture by combining a first solution with a second solution, wherein the first solution comprises polymer-coated metal nanoparticles comprising metallic nanoparticles coated with a polymer, and wherein the second solution comprises carbon nanotubes. The methods also include heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the polymer for a time sufficient to cause the polymer-coated metal nanoparticles to bind to the carbon nanotubes forming the metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes.

Iftime, Gabriel↗
NASA NTRS1973

Thermomechanical behavior of a polynorbornadiene

A high-temperature linear amorphous hydrocarbon polymer synthesized cationically from 2,5-norbornadiene was studied thermomechanically with respect to physical transitions and stability in nitrogen. The glass transition temperature was determined to be 320 C (at less than 1 cps), which is probably the highest known for a linear hydrocarbon addition polymer. The thermomechanical technique of torsional braid analysis, together with thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, infrared analysis, and solubility studies, was used to investigate the sequential events of the glass transition and degradation. The polymer is of particular interest since it is a high-temperature plastic which in the bulk form would probably need to be processed at high speeds in the vicinity of the glass transition temperature in an inert atmosphere. The presence of tertiary hydrogen atoms should render it amenable to degradation by the earth's environment.

Roller, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Composite prepreg application device

A heated shoe and cooled pressure roller assembly for composite prepreg application is provided. The shoe assembly includes a heated forward contact surface having a curved pressure surface. The following cooled roller provides a continuous pressure to the thermoplastic while reducing the temperature to approximately 5 C below glass transition temperature. Electric heating coils inside the forward portion of the shoe heat a thermoplastic workpiece to approximately 100 C above the glass transition. Immediately following the heated contact surface, a cooled roller cools the work. The end sharpened shape of the heated shoe trailing edge tends to prevent slag buildup and maintain a uniform, relaxed stress fabrication.

Sandusky, Donald A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Composite prepreg application device

A heated shoe and cooled pressure roller assembly for composite prepreg application is provided. The shoe assembly includes a heated forward contact surface having a curved pressure surface. The following cooled roller provides a continuous pressure to the thermoplastic while reducing the temperature to approximately 5.degree. C. below glass transition temperature. Electric heating coils inside the forward portion of the shoe heat a thermoplastic workpiece to approximately 100.degree. C. above the glass transition. Immediately following the heated contact surface, a cooled roller cools the work. The end sharpened shape of the heated shoe trailing edge tends to prevent slag buildup and maintain a uniform, relaxed stress fabrication.

Sandusky, Donald A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Consolidation of composite cathodes with NCM and sulfide solid-state electrolytes by hot pressing for all-solid-state Li metal batteries

In this study, hot pressing was evaluated as a method of cell fabrication to increase the energy density of next-generation all-solid-state batteries with NCM active material and sulfide solid-state electrolyte. Hot pressing involves consolidating glassy sulfide electrolyte by the application of pressure at a temperature above the electrolyte’s glass transition temperature. Typically, cell stacks are formed at room temperature and retain 15–30% porosity that limits cell energy density. On the other hand, the porosity of hot-pressed cell stacks is reduced to less than 10%. The electrochemical function of hot-pressed cathode composites was assessed as a function of active material and solid-state electrolyte compositions. Specifically, LiNi 0.85 Co 0.10 Mn 0.05 O 2 and LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 were studied in combination with either glassy Li 7 P 3 S 11 , glassy Li 3 PS 4 , or β-Li 3 PS 4 solid-state electrolytes. Cathode composites composed of LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 and Li 3 PS 4 maintained the best function after hot pressing at 200 °C and 370 MPa for 10 min. It was found that LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 ’s resistance to microcracking and the inherent stability of Li 3 PS 4 ’s fully de-networked local structure are critical to maintain good electrochemical function after hot pressing. Furthermore, the results of this study show that hot pressing reduces porosity in the cathode composite and confirms the feasibility of cathode support of consolidated, reinforced glass separators.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Crystallization of Bottlebrush Statistical Copolymers of Polystyrene and Poly(ethylene oxide)

Here, bottlebrush statistical copolymers (BSCPs) with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and polystyrene (PS) side chains grafted to a polynorbornene (PNB) backbone were synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The impact of the glassy PS side chains on the crystallization of the PEO side chains as a function of the backbone length, grafting densities, and fraction of the PS and PEO side chains is described. The bottlebrush architecture, where the side chains are anchored to the backbone, inherently constrains the mobility of PEO. Compared with the bulk crystallization temperature of PEO, the higher glass transition temperature of PS places further constraints on PEO crystallization. The limited mobility of PEO leads to cold crystallization behavior during heating. Reduced grafting densities, in turn, reduce side-chain crowding, leading to less extended pendant structures. The degree of crystallinity of PEO was found to decrease at lower grafting densities to a point where crystallization was not observed. The average distance between bottlebrush backbones increased linearly with the backbone length, suggesting that the backbone forms a distinct mesodomain. For BSCPs with asymmetric volume fractions of PS and PEO side chains, the degree of crystallinity of PEO increases with a change from cold crystallization to normal nucleation and growth during cooling, as a result of reduced constraints on PEO mobility by the glassy PS side chains.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Dry Printing Pure Copper with High Conductivity and Adhesion for Flexible Electronics

Additive manufacturing of functional devices on various rigid and flexible substrates is rising rapidly due to their design flexibility, rapid manufacturing, and lower cost. Current printing technologies are ink-based and focused on printing silver (Ag) as conductive lines due to its matured ink formulation process, low sintering temperature, ease of printing, and low oxidation rate. However, Ag is the 68th most abundant element on Earth, while copper (Cu) is the 25th, making it much cheaper (>100×) while having a comparable conductivity to Ag. Therefore, printing Cu has become technologically and economically more attractive than Ag. Nevertheless, Cu printing is still a significant challenge in ink-based printing methods due to the higher sintering temperature relative to the glass-transition temperature of most flexible substrates, the higher oxidation rate, the challenging ink formulation process, and ink stability concerns. Here, we demonstrate printing highly conductive Cu on flexible polyimide substrates using a dry printing technique. Cu nanoparticles (~3–30 nm) are generated by on-demand laser ablation of a solid Cu target inside the printer head and under argon background gas. These Cu nanoparticles are then transported through a nozzle and onto the substrate, where they are laser-sintered in real time. The argon gas plays three critical roles in laser plume condensation for nanoparticle generation, transport, and sheath gas to avoid oxidation during sintering. The sintered nanoparticles thus show high electrical conductivity and mechanical stability under static and cyclic tests. Our dry printing technique can potentially revolutionize how electronic devices and sensors are additively manufactured for earth and space applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Heterogeneous Polymer Dynamics Explored Using Static 1H NMR Spectra

NMR spectroscopy continues to provide important molecular level details of dynamics in different polymer materials, ranging from rubbers to highly crosslinked composites. It has been argued that thermoset polymers containing dynamic and chemical heterogeneities can be fully cured at temperatures well below the final glass transition temperature (Tg). In this paper, we described the use of static solid-state 1H NMR spectroscopy to measure the activation of different chain dynamics as a function of temperature. Near Tg, increasing polymer segmental chain fluctuations lead to dynamic averaging of the local homonuclear proton-proton (1H-1H) dipolar couplings, as reflected in the reduction of the NMR line shape second moment (M2) when motions are faster than the magnitude of the dipolar coupling. In general, for polymer systems, distributions in the dynamic correlation times are commonly expected. To help identify the limitations and pitfalls of M2 analyses, the impact of activation energy or, equivalently, correlation time distributions, on the analysis of 1H NMR M2 temperature variations is explored. It is shown by using normalized reference curves that the distributions in dynamic activation energies can be measured from the M2 temperature behavior. An example of the M2 analysis for a series of thermosetting polymers with systematically varied dynamic heterogeneity is presented and discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1973

Low-resistivity homogeneous elastomers

Mixture of polyurethane polyelectrolyte and soluble, conducting organic compound produces homogeneous elastomer which has resistivity several orders of magnitude less than polyelectrolyte alone. Elastomeric material has novel resistivity dependence on temperature, that is, resistivity changes dramatically over narrow temperature range in vicinity of glass transition temperature.

Somoano, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Crystal nucleation and glass formation in metallic alloy melts

Homogeneous nucleation, containerless solidification, and bulk formation of metallic glasses are discussed. Homogeneous nucleation is not a limiting factor for metallic glass formation at slow cooling rates if the reduced glass transition temperature is high enough. Such glasses can be made in bulk if heterogeneous nucleants are removed. Containerless processing eleminates potential sources of nucleants, but as drop tube experiments on the Pd-Si alloys show, the free surface may still be a very effective heterogeneous nucleant. Combination of etching and heating in vacuum or fluxing can be effective for cleaning fairly large ingots of nucleants. Reduced gravity processing has a potentially useful role in the fluxing technique, for example to keep large metallic ingots surrounded by a low density, low fluidity flux if this proved difficult under ground conditions. For systems where heterogeneous nucleants in the bulk of the ingot need gravity to segregate to the flux-metal interface, reduced gravity processing may not be appropriate for bulk glass formation.

Spaepen, F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Analytical ultrasonics for characterization of metallurgical microstructures and transformations

The application of contact (piezoelectric) and noncontact (laser generation and detection) ultrasonic techniques for dynamic investigation of precipitation hardening processes in aluminum alloys, as well as crystallization and phase transformation in rapidly solidified amorphous and microcrystalline alloys is discussed. From the variations of the sound velocity and attenuation the precipitation mechanism and kinetics were determined. In addition, a correlation was established between the observed changes in the velocity and attenuation and the mechanical properties of age-hardenable aluminum alloys. The behavior of the elastic moduli, determined ultrasonically, were found to be sensitive to relaxation, crystallization and phase decomposition phenomena in rapidly solidified metallic glasses. Analytical ultrasonics enables determination of the activation energies and growth parameters of the reactions. Therefrom theoretical models can be constructed to explain the changes in mechanical and physical properties upon heat treatment of glassy alloys. The composition dependence of the elastic moduli in amorphous Cu-Zr alloys was found to be related to the glass transition temperature, and consequently to the glass forming ability of these alloys. Dynamic ultrasonic analysis was found to be feasible for on-line, real-time, monitoring of metallurgical processes.

Rosen, M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Degradation of graphite-epoxy due to electron radiation

Experimental results are presented showing that electron irradiation has a variable effect on the properties of graphite-epoxy depending upon the test temperature and the property of interest. In general, compression properties are improved at cold temperature and degraded at elevated temperature. With the exception of some moduli, tensile and shear properties are degraded at both cold and elevated temperatures. Electron irradiation lowers the glass transition temperature of graphite/epoxy significantly. Property degradation of irradiated materials at the elevated temperature is associated with the reduction in Tg. It is shown that a (0) compression-strength test is the most sensitive test for exhibiting the effects of electron irradiation. Results from tests on neat resin also show that the bulk matrix is degraded after irradiation, and that the correlation between resin and composite response is good.

Herakovich, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Processes for treating cellulosic material

Disclosed are processes for pretreating cellulosic materials in liquid water by heating the materials in liquid water at a temperature at or above their glass transition temperature but not substantially exceeding 220.degree. C., while maintaining the pH of the reaction medium in a range that avoids substantial autohydrolysis of the cellulosic materials. Such pretreatments minimize chemical changes to the cellulose while leading to physical changes which substantially increase susceptibility to hydrolysis in the presence of cellulase.

Ladisch, Michael R.↗
NASA NTRS2004

CHEM-Based Self-Deploying Spacecraft Radar Antennas

A document proposes self-deploying spacecraft radar antennas based on cold hibernated elastic memory (CHEM) structures. Described in a number of prior NASA Tech Briefs articles, the CHEM concept is one of utilizing open-cell shape-memory-polymer (SMP) foams to make lightweight structures that can be compressed for storage and can later be expanded, then rigidified for use. A CHEM-based antenna according to the proposal would comprise three layers of microstrip patches and transmission lines interspersed with two flat layers of SMP foam, which would serve as both dielectric spacers and as means of deployment. The SMP foam layers would be fabricated at full size at a temperature below the SMP glass-transition temperature (Tg). The layers would be assembled into a unitary structure, which, at temperature above Tg, would be compacted to much smaller thickness, then rolled up for storage. Next, the structure would be cooled to below Tg and kept there during launch. Upon reaching the assigned position in outer space, the structure would be heated above Tg to make it rebound to its original size and shape. The structure as thus deployed would then be rigidified by natural cooling to below Tg

Sokolowski, Witold↗