Engineering topics

Puleo, Bernadette

Publications and source records attributed to Puleo, Bernadette.

2 records

NASA NTRS2019

Sublimation Protection Coatings for Thermoelectric Materials for Space Power Applications

The compounds such as Yb14MnSb11 are relatively new p-type thermoelectric materials, respectively. NASA's interest in these material are to replace the state-of-the-art Si-Ge legs of the current radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). Ideally, the hot end of this leg would operate at 1000 degrees C in the vacuum of space. These materials, however, suffer from a high sublimation rate at elevated temperatures and would require a coating in order to survive the required RTG lifetime of 14 years. The purpose of present work is to develop sublimation protection coatings for Yb14MnSb11 at temperatures up to 1000 degrees C. Coatings for Yb14MnSb11 present many challenges. The coating must not significantly react or interdiffuse with the substrate thereby degrading the substrate or consuming the coating, must remain intact and not crack or spall during thermal cycling prior to launch, and must be a good insulator both electrically and thermally so as not to provide a short circuit for either electron flow or heat through the coating rather than through the leg. Based on these requirements, several oxides have been selected as possible coating candidates. This paper discusses the development of slurry processes to deposit these oxides coatings on thermoelectric materials.

Sublimation↗

NASA NTRS2017

Current EBC Development and Testing at NASA

SiC SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) are a game changer for advanced power generation equipment because of their high temperature capability, oxidation resistance, and light weight that translate to significant reduction in fuel consumption and emission. Limitations of SiC SiC CMCs include surface recession and component cracking and associated chemical and physical degradation in the CMC. The solution pursued to mitigate surface recession of SiC SiC CMCs is the incorporation of coating systems that provide surface protection, which has become known as an Environmental Barrier Coating (EBC). The development of EBCs for the protection of SiC SiC CMCs was a continuation of coating development work for corrosion protection of silicon-based monolithics. The first and second generation EBCs developed in mid 1990s-early 2000s laid the foundation for current EBCs. Environmental degradation that limits EBC life includes surface recession by steam, oxidation in steam environments, and CMAS-EBC reactions. Many engine tests have been conducted since late 1990s and a first CMC component entered into service in 2016 in a commercial engine. The introduction of CMCs represents significant challenges as failure of the EBC means rapid reduction in component life. A reliable lifing method and engine-relevant testing methods to validate life need to be developed. This paper will current activities on EBC development and testing at NASA.

CMC↗