Engineering topics

Sibold, J. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Sibold, J. D..

3 records

NASA NTRS1982

Development of low-thermal expansion mullite bodies

A series of ceramic compositions based on variations in the crystal-glass ratio of a mullite body were developed. The thermal expansion of these compositions varies from 3.7 to 5.0 x 10 to the -6th/deg C to 800 C. The materials are particularly useful for applications involving silicon, in that an identical thermal expansion is available. The high-temperature creep data for the lower-expansion compositions are inferior as a result of their higher glass contents. Raw material sources and fabrication procedures for specific compositions are given.

Leipold, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Low cost silicon-on-ceramic photovoltaic solar cells

A technique has been developed for coating low-cost mullite-based refractory substrates with thin layers of solar cell quality silicon. The technique involves first carbonizing one surface of the ceramic and then contacting it with molten silicon. The silicon wets the carbonized surface and, under the proper thermal conditions, solidifies as a large-grained sheet. Solar cells produced from this composite silicon-on-ceramic material have exhibited total area conversion efficiencies of ten percent.

Koepke, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Development of Mullite Substrates and Containers

The mullite-molten silicon interaction was evaluated through fabrication of a series of bodies made with variations in density, alumina-silica ratio, and glass-crystalline ratio. The materials were tested in a sessile drop technique. None of the variations stood up to extended exposure to molten silicon sufficiently to be recommended as a container material. However, directional solidification experiments suggest that, under proper conditions, contamination of the silicon by mullite containers can be minimized. To improve an already good thermal expansion match between mullite and silicon, compositional variations were studied. Altering of the alumina-silica ratio was determined to give a continuously varying thermal expansion. A standard mullite composition was selected and substrates 40 x 4 x .040 inches were fabricated. Slotted substrates of various configurations and various compositions were also fabricated.

Sibold, J. D.↗