Engineering topics

Long, Martin

Publications and source records attributed to Long, Martin.

6 records

NASA NTRS1993

Applications Of Graphite Fluoride Fibers In Outer Space

Report characterizes graphite fluoride fibers made from commercially available graphitized carbon fibers and discusses some potential applications of graphite fluoride fibers in outer space. Applications include heat-sinking printed-circuit boards, solar concentrators, and absorption of radar waves. Other applications based on exploitation of increased resistance to degradation by atomic oxygen, present in low orbits around Earth.

Hung, Ching-Cheng↗

NASA NTRS1990

Graphite fluoride fibers and their applications in the space industry

Characterization and potential space applications of graphite fluoride fibers from commercially available graphitized carbon fibers are presented. Graphite fluoride fibers with fluorine to carbon ratios of 0.65 and 0.68 were found to have electrical resistivity values of 10(exp 4) and 10(exp 11) Ohms-cm, respectively, and thermal conductivity values of 24 and 5 W/m-K, respectively. At this fluorine content range, the fibers have tensile strength of 0.25 + or - 0.10 GPa (36 + or - 14 ksi), Young's modulus of 170 + or - 30 GPa (25 + or - 5 Msi). The coefficient of thermal expansion value of a sample with fluorine to carbon ratio of 0.61 was found to be 7 ppm/C. These properties change and approach the graphite value as the fluorine content approach 0. Electrically insulative graphite fluoride fiber is at least five times more thermally conductive than fiberglass. Therefore, it can be used as a heat sinking printed circuit board material for low temperature, long life power electronics in spacecraft. Also, partially fluorinated fiber with tailor-made physical properties to meet the requirements of certain engineering design can be produced. For example, a partially fluorinated fiber could have a predetermined CTE value in -1.5 to 7 ppm/C range and would be suitable for use in solar concentrators in solar dynamic power systems. It could also have a predetermined electrical resistivity value suitable for use as a low observable material. Experimental data indicate that slightly fluorinated graphite fibers are more durable in the atomic oxygen environment than pristine graphite. Therefore, fluorination of graphite used in the construction of spacecraft that would be exposed to the low Earth orbit atomic oxygen may protect defect sites in atomic oxygen protective coatings and therefore decrease the rate of degradation of graphite.

Hung, Ching-Chen↗

NASA NTRS1989

Graphite Fluoride Fiber Composites For Heat Sinking

Graphite fluoride fiber/polymer composite materials consist of graphite fluoride fibers in epoxy, polytetrafluoroethylene, or polyimide resin. Combines high electrical resistivity with high thermal conductivity and solves heat-transfer problems of many electrical systems. Commercially available in powder form, for use as dry lubricant or cathode material in lithium batteries. Produced by direct fluorination of graphite powder at temperature of 400 to 650 degree C. Applications include printed-circuit boards for high-density power electronics, insulators for magnetic-field cores like those found in alternators and transformers, substrates for thin-film resistors, and electrical-protection layers in aircraft de-icers.

Hung, Ching-Cheh↗

NASA NTRS1989

Fluorinated graphite fibers as a new engineering material: Promises and challenges

Pitch based graphitized carbon fibers with electrical resistivity of 300 micro-Ohm/cm were brominated and partially debrominated to 18 percent bromine at room temperature, and then fluorinated at 300 to 450 C, either continuously or intermittently for several cycles. In addition, on fluorine and titanium fluoride intercalated fiber sample was fluorinated at 270 C from the same fiber source. The mass and conductivity of the brominated-debrominated then fluorinated fibers (with fluorine-to-carbon atom ratio of 0.54 or higher) stabilized at room temperature air in a few days. However, at 200 C, these values decreased rapidly and then more slowly, throughout a 2-week test period. The electrically insulative or semiconductive fibers were found to be compatible with epoxy and have the fluorine-to-carbon atom ratio of 0.65 to 0.68, thermal conductivity of 5 to 24 W/m-K, electrical resistivity of 10(exp 4) to 10(exp 11) Ohm/cm, tensile strength of 70 to 150 ksi, Young's modulus of 20 to 30 msi, and CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) values of 7 ppm/deg C. Data of these physical property values are preliminary. However, it is concluded that these physical properties can be tailor-made. They depend largely on the fluorine content of the final products and the intercalant in the fibers before fluorination, and, to a smaller extent, on the fluorination temperature histogram.

Hung, Ching-Cheh↗

NASA NTRS1988

Synthesis, electrical and thermal conductivities, and potential applications of graphite fluoride fibers

Graphite fluoride fibers can be produced by fluorinating pristine or intercalated graphite fibers. The higher the degree of graphitization of the fibers, the higher the temperature needed to reach the same degree of fluorination. Structural damage during high temperature fluorination can be reduced or eliminated by pretreating the fibers with bromine and/or fluorine. The electrical resistivity of the fibers was in the 0.01 to 10 to the 11th ohm-cm range. The thermal conductivity of these fibers ranged from 5 to 75 W/m-K, which is much larger than the thermal conductivity of glass (1.1 W/m-K), the commonly used fiber in epoxy composites. A composite made from graphite fluoride fibers and epoxy or PTFE may be highly thermally conducting and electrically insulating or semiconducting. The electrically insulating product may be used as heat sinks for electrical or electronic instruments.

Hung, Ching-Cheh↗

NASA NTRS1987

Synthesis, physical and chemical properties, and potential applications of graphite fluoride fibers

Graphite fluoride fibers can be produced by fluorinating pristine or intercalated graphite fibers. The higher the degree of graphitization of the fibers, the higher the temperature needed to reach the same degree of fluorination. Pitched based fibers were fluorinated to flourine-to-carbon atom rations between 0 and 1. The graphite fluoride fibers with a fluorine-to-carbon atom ration near 1 have extensive visible structural damage. On the other hand, fluorination of fibers pretreated with bromine or fluorine and bromine result in fibers with a fluorine-to-carbon atom ratio nearly equal to 0.5 with no visible structural damage. The electrical resistivity of the fibers is dependent upon the fluorine to carbon atom ratio and ranged from .01 to 10 to the 11th ohm/cm. The thermal conductivity of these fibers ranged from 5 to 73 W/m-k, which is much larger than the thermal conductivity of glass, which is the regular filler in epoxy composites. If graphite fluoride fibers are used as a filler in epoxy or PTFE, the resulting composite may be a high thermal conductivity material with an electrical resistivity in either the insulator or semiconductor range. The electrically insulating product may provide heat transfer with lower temperature gradients than many current electrical insulators. Potential applications are presented.

Hung, Ching-Cheh↗