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At least 1,765 records · Page 98
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Graphite fiber polyimide composites for spherical bearings to 340 C (650 F)

Journal bearings with self-alining spherical elements of graphite-fiber-reinforced-polyimide composites were tested from 24 to 340 C (75 to 650 F) at unit loads up to 3.5 times 10 to the 7th power N/sq m (5000 psi). The journal oscillated in the cylindrical bore of the composite element + or - 15 deg at 1 hertz. Outer races and journals were metal hardened of Rockwell C-32 and finished to 10 to the minus 7th power m. A 45 wt. percent graphite-fiber composite gave low friction (0.08 to 0.13), low wear, and almost no plastic deformation under any of the test conditions. Composites with 15 and 25 wt. percent graphite fiber failed by plastic deformation at 315 C (600 F) and 3.5 times 10 to the 7th power N/sq m (5000 psi). A composite with 60 wt. percent graphite fiber failed by brittle fracture under the same conditions, but had very low friction coefficients (0.05 to 0.10) and may be a good bearing material at lighter loads.

Sliney, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Feasibility of producing cast-refractory metal-fiber superalloy composites

A study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of direct casting as a practical method for producing cast superalloy tungsten or columbium alloy fiber composites while retaining a high percentage of fiber strength. Fourteen nickel base, four cobalt, and three iron based matrices were surveyed for their degree of reaction with the metal fibers. Some stress-rupture results were obtained at temperatures of 760, 816, 871, and 1093 C for a few composite systems. The feasibility of producing acceptable composites of some cast nickel, cobalt, and iron matrix alloys with tungsten or columbium alloy fibers was demonstrated.

Mcintyre, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Development of potassium ion conducting hollow glass fibers

Potassium ion conducting glasses, chemically resistant to potassium, potassium sulfide and sulfur, were made and their possible utility as the membrane material for a potassium/sulfur battery was evaluated. At least one satisfactory candidate was found. It possesses an electrical resistance which makes it usable as a membrane in the form of a fine hollow fiber. It's chemical and electrochemical resistances are excellent. The other aspects of the possible potassium sulfur battery utilizing such fine hollow fibers, including the header (or tube sheet) and a cathode current collector were studied. Several cathode materials were found to be satisfactory. None of the tube sheet materials studied possessed all the desired properties. Multi-fiber cells had very limited life-time due to physical failure of fibers at the fiber/tube sheet junctions.

Tsang, F. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Development of high temperature resistant graphite fiber coupling agents

Surface treatments were investigated as potential coupling agents to improve the elevated temperature shear strength retention of polyimide/graphite and polyphenylquinoxaline/graphite composites. The potential coupling agents were evaluated by fiber strand tensile tests, fiber and composite weight losses at 533 and 588K, and by interlaminar shear strength retention at 533 and 588K. The two surface treatments selected for more extensive evaluation were a coating of Ventromer T-1, a complex organometallic reaction product of titanium tetrachloride and trimethyl borate, and a polyphenylquinoxaline (PPQ) sizing which was pyrolyzed in nitrogen to form a carbonaceous layer on the fiber. Pyrolyzed polyphenylquinoxaline is a satisfactory coupling agent for polyimide/Thornel 300 graphite fiber composites. During 1000 hours aging at 588K such composites lose a little over half their transverse tensile strength, and suffer a slight loss in flexural modulus. No degradation of flexural strength or interlaminar shear strength occured during 1000 hours aging at 588K. None of the coupling agents examined had a markedly beneficial effect with polyphenylquinoxaline composites.

Griffin, R. N.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Investigation of fatigue strength of multilayer advanced fiber composites

The analytical characterization of a multilayer fiber composite plate (without hole) was accomplished for both static and dynamic loading conditions using the finite difference technique. Thornel 300/5208 composites with and without holes were subjected to static and tensile fatigue testing. Five (5) fiber orientations were submitted to test. Tensile fatigue testing also included three (3) loading conditions and two (2) frequencies. The low-cycle test specimens demonstrated a shorter tensile fatigue life than the high-cycle test specimens. Failure surfaces demonstrated effect of testing conditions. Secondary failure mechanisms, such as: delamination, fiber breakage, and edge fiber delamination were present. Longitudinal delamination between plies also occurred in these specimens.

Thornton, H. R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Carbide coated fibers in graphite-aluminum composites

The study of protective-coupling layers of refractory metal carbides on the graphite fibers prior to their incorporation into composites is presented. Such layers should be directly wettable by liquid aluminum and should act as diffusion barriers to prevent the formation of aluminum carbide. Chemical vapor deposition was used to uniformly deposit thin, smooth, continuous coats of ZrC on the carbon fibers of tows derived from both rayon and polyacrylonitrile. A wet chemical coating of the fibers, followed by high-temperature treatment, was used, and showed promise as an alternative coating method. Experiments were performed to demonstrate the ability of aluminum alloys to wet carbide surfaces. Titanium carbide, zirconium carbide and carbide-coated graphite surfaces were successfully wetted. Results indicate that initial attempts to wet surfaces of ZrC-coated carbon fibers appear successful.

Imprescia, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Progress in the development of the hollow fiber sodium-sulfur secondary cell

This report describes the development and status of the sodium-sulfur secondary cell which uses fine hollow glass fibers as the electrolyte. Laboratory size cells containing up to 7000 fibers and having capacities up to 5 ampere-hours have been built and operated. These cells have been run at various cycle depths up to 95% of capacity. Lifetime does not depend on depth of discharge up to at least 50% depth and possibly deeper. Rates of charge and discharge of the nominally one hour cells have been varied from three times the design rate to 0.05 times the design rate. Smaller cells operate with essentially no internal resistance increase during their lifetimes of over four months on continuous charge/discharge at the one hour rate. Larger cells assembled with somewhat different mechanical assembly techniques have shorter lives. Two types of failure modes are observed: progressive weakening and breaking of the fibers inside the cell assembly, and fiber breakage at the fiber/tube sheet interface.

Levine, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Fundamental analysis of the failure of polymer-based fiber reinforced composites

A mathematical model is described which will permit predictions of the strength of fiber reinforced composites containing known flaws to be made from the basic properties of their constituents. The approach was to embed a local heterogeneous region (LHR) surrounding the crack tip into an anisotropic elastic continuum. The model should (1) permit an explicit analysis of the micromechanical processes involved in the fracture process, and (2) remain simple enough to be useful in practical computations. Computations for arbitrary flaw size and orientation under arbitrary applied load combinations were performed from unidirectional composites with linear elastic-brittle constituent behavior. The mechanical properties were nominally those of graphite epoxy. With the rupture properties arbitrarily varied to test the capability of the model to reflect real fracture modes in fiber composites, it was shown that fiber breakage, matrix crazing, crack bridging, matrix-fiber debonding, and axial splitting can all occur during a period of (gradually) increasing load prior to catastrophic fracture. The computations reveal qualitatively the sequential nature of the stable crack process that precedes fracture.

Kanninen, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

PMR polyimide/graphite fiber composite fan blades

Ultrahigh speed fan blades, designed in accordance with the requirements of an ultrahigh tip speed blade axial flow compressor, were fabricated from a high strength graphite fiber tow and a PMR polyimide resin. The PMR matrix was prepared by combining three monomeric reactants in methyl alcohol, and the solution was applied directly to the reinforcing fiber for subsequent in situ polymerization. Some of the molded blades were completely finished by secondary bonding of root pressure pads and an electroformed nickel leading edge sheath prior to final machining. The results of the spin testing of nine PMR fan blades are given. Prior to blade fabrication, heat resin tensile properties of the PMR resin were examined at four formulated molecular weight levels. Additionally, three formulated molecular weight levels were investigated in composite form with both a high modulus and a high strength fiber, both as-molded and postcured, in room temperature and 232 C transverse tensile, flexure and short beam shear. Mixed fiber orientation panels simulating potential blade constructions were also evaluated. Flexure tests, short beam shear tests, and tensile tests were conducted on these angle-plied laminates.

Cavano, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Diamagnetic studies on as-processed carbon fibers

The Faraday method has been used to measure the diamagnetic susceptibilities of small bundles of aligned carbon fibers of different types at room temperature. It was found that the tensor trace susceptibility of the fibers varies systematically over the range 0.8-20 (in units of -10 to the -6th emu/g) as a function of precursor type and processing history. The susceptibility increases, in general, with increasing nominal treatment temperature and hot stretching, and with increasing tensile elastic modulus. The anisotropy ratio of fibers increases approximately linearly with tensile elastic modulus for all fibers from about 1 for a modulus of about 70 GN/sq m to about 22 for a modulus of 700 GN/sq m in air, and is quantitatively consistent with the layer-plane orientation textures determined by X-ray diffraction when appropriate values of the crystallite principal susceptibilities are used.

Scott, C. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A review of NASA fiber optics tasks

The status of on-going NASA tasks involving fiber optic data transmission, and related topics is given. Ground based applications, including a multiplexed wideband 2 km prototype link and a building-to-building video link, are described. In connection with the use of fibers in space, the effects to be expected from the space environment are touched on, particularly radiation darkening of fibers and temperature effects. Laboratory results on performance of fibers at cryogenic temperatures are also presented. Finally, some thoughts on future applications are given.

Johnston, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Correlation of Fiber Composite Tensile Strength with the Ultrasonic Stress Wave Factor

An ultrasonic-acoustic technique was used to indicate the strength variations of tensile specimens of a graphite-epoxy composite. A stress wave factor was determined and its value was found to depend on variations of the fiber-resin bonding as well as fiber orientation. The fiber orientations studied were 0 deg (longitudinal), 10 deg (off-axis), 90 deg (transverse), 0 deg + or - 45 deg/0 deg symmetrical, and + or - 45 deg] symmetrical. The stress wave factor can indicate variations of the tensile and shear strengths of composite materials. The stress wave factor was also found to be sensitive to strength variations associated with microporosity and differences in fiber-resin ratio.

Vary, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Fiber reinforced PMR polyimide composites

Commercially obtained PMR-15 polyimide prepregs with S-glass and graphite fiber reinforcements were evaluated along with in-house prepared glass and graphite cloth PMR 2 materials. A novel autoclave approach was conceived and used to demonstrate that both the PMR systems respond to 1.4 MPa (200 psi) autoclave pressures to produce void free composites equivalent to die molded laminates. Isothermal gravimetric analysis and subsequent mechanical property tests indicated that the PMR 2 system was significantly superior in thermo-oxidative stability, and that S-glass reinforcements may contribute to the accelerated degradation of composites at 316 C (600 F) when compared to graphite fiber reinforced composites. Fully reversed bending fatigue experiments were conducted with a type of fixture unused for organic matrix composites. These studies indicated that the graphite fiber composites were clearly superior in fatigue resistance to the glass fiber reinforced material and that PMR matrix composite systems yield performance of the same order as composite materials employing other families of matrices.

Cavano, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Some effects of composition on friction and wear of graphite-fiber-reinforced polyimide liners in plain spherical bearings

Oscillating, plain spherical bearings with graphite-fiber-reinforced polyimide (GFRPI) liners were tested for friction and wear from 25 to 315 C. A condensation polymer was compared with an addition polymer, and a high-modulus fiber was compared with a lower cost, low-modulus fiber. All polymer-fiber combinations gave friction coefficients from 0.05 to 0.18 and low wear. Adding CdO and CdI2 reduced the wear of degassed bearings in dry air. These additives were not needed when the bearing liners contained adsorbed moisture. Although, at 25 C, MoS2 reduced the friction and wear of the base composite at unit loads above 70,000,000 N/m squared (10,000 psi), it had no beneficial effect at lighter loads.

Sliney, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Graphite-fiber-reinforced polyimide liners of various compositions in plain spherical bearings

A plain spherical bearing design with a ball diameter of 28.6 mm, a race length of 12.7 mm, and a 1.7-mm-thick, molded composite liner was evaluated. The liner material is a self-lubricating composite of graphite-fiber-reinforced polyimide resin (GFRPI). The liner is prepared by transfer molding a mixture of one part chopped graphite fiber and one part partially polymerized resin into the space between the bearing ball and the outer race and then completing the polymerization under heat and pressure. Several liner compositions were evaluated: two types of polyimide, condensation and addition; two types of graphite fiber, low and high modulus; and four powder additives - cadmium oxide, cadmium iodide, graphite fluoride, and molybdenum disulfide. The bearings were oscillated + or - 15 deg at 1 Hz for 20 kilocycles under a radial unit load of 29 MN sq m (4200 psi) in dry air at 25, 200, or 315 C. Both types of fiber and polyimide gave low friction and wear. A simple equation was developed to fit the wear-time data and adequately predicted wear to 100 kilocycles.

Sliney, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Fresnel-Fizeau effect in a rotating optical fiber ring interferometer

Measurements of the Fresnel-Fizeau effect in a fiber ring interferometer gyroscope are reported. The presence of the dispersion term in the Fresnel drag coefficient was discernable. The temperature dependence of the coefficient bears on the temperature sensitivity of the optical fiber gyroscope. An alternate approach to measuring fiber dispersion is an added benefit, leading to determination of maximum pulse rate transmitted through single-mode fibers.

Vali, V.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Preliminary development of a fundamental analysis model for crack growth in a fiber reinforced composite material

A mathematical model for the strength of fiber reinforced composites containing specific flaws is described. The approach is to embed a local heterogeneous region surrounding the crack tip in an anisotropic elastic continuum. By consideration of the individual failure events activated near the flaw tip, a strength prediction can be made from basic properties of the composite constituents. Computations for arbitrary flaw size and orientation have been performed for unidirectional composites with linear elastic-brittle constituent behavior. The mechanical properties were those of graphite epoxy. With the rupture properties arbitrarily varied to test the capability of the model to reflect real fracture modes in fiber composites, it is shown that fiber breakage, matrix crazing, crack bridging, matrix-fiber debonding, and axial splitting all can occur during gradually increasing load prior to catastrophic fracture. Qualitative comparisons with experimental results on edge-notched unidirectional graphite epoxy specimens have also been made.

Kanninen, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Correlation of fiber composite tensile strength with the ultrasonic stress wave factor

An ultrasonic-acoustic technique was used to indicate the strength variations of tensile specimens of a graphite-epoxy composite. A 'stress wave factor' was determined and its value was found to depend on variations of the fiber-resin bonding as well as fiber orientation. The fiber orientations studied were 0 deg (longitudinal), 10 deg (off-axis), 90 deg (transverse), (0 deg/+ or - 45 deg/0) symmetrical, and (+ or - 45 deg) symmetrical. The stress wave factor can indicate variations of the tensile and shear strengths of composite materials. The stress wave factor was also found to be sensitive to strength variations associated with microporosity and differences in fiber-resin ratio.

Vary, A.↗