Engineering topics

Weinberg, M. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Weinberg, M. C..

At least 19 records

NASA NTRS1992

Crystallization of lithium borate glasses

The glass-forming ability and crystallization behavior of lithium borate compositions, in the diborate-to-metaborate-range, were studied. In particular, the nature and sequence of formation of crystalline phases and the tendency toward devitrification were investigated as functions of temperature, thermal history and batch composition. It was found that the sequence of crystalline phase formation was sensitive to all of the three latter factors, and it was observed that under certain conditions metastable defect structures of the metaborate can appear.

Goktas, A. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Effect of OH content on phase separation behavior of soda-silica glasses

The kinetics of phase separation in a gel and ordinary soda-silica glass are followed by use of small angle X-ray scattering. Also, the influence of OH on the phase separation behavior is studied. It is found that OH accelerates the growth of the secondary phase, and that gel and ordinary glasses of similar composition and OH concentration exhibit similar phase separation characteristics.

Neilson, G. F.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Are gel-derived glasses different from ordinary glasses?

A review is presented of some of the previously reported differences and similarities between comparable gel glasses (and gels) and ordinary glasses. In this regard, considerations are made with respect to such factors as structure, physical and thermal properties, and phase transformation behavior. A variety of silicate glass compositions are used for illustrative purposes. The discussion is roughly divided into two sections: low and high temperature behavior. At low temperatures one anticipates that differences between gel and conventional glasses will exist, but such dissimilarities are not expected to persist to high temperatures. However, experimental evidence is presented which indicates the perpetuation of such differences to very high temperatures. A partial resolution for this anomalous behavior is offered.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Effect of chloride incorporation on the crystallization of zirconium-barium-lanthanum-aluminum fluoride glass

One aspect of the influence of preparation procedure on the crystallization behavior of a zirconium-barium-lanthanum-aluminum fluoride glass was studied. The crystallization pattern of this glass may be affected by the chlorine concentration within it. In particular, when such glasses are heated at low temperatures, the alpha-Ba-Zr-F6 crystalline phase forms only in those glasses which contain chloride.

Neilson, G. F.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Glass Research

Research efforts span three general areas of glass science: glass refining, gel-derived glasses, and nucleation and crystallization of glasses. Gas bubbles which are present in a glass product are defects which may render the glass totally useless for the end application. For example, optical glasses, laser host glasses, and a variety of other specialty glasses must be prepared virtually defect free to be employable. Since a major mechanism of bubble removal, buoyant rise, is virtually inoperative in microgravity, glass fining will be especially difficult in space. On the other hand, the suppression of buoyant rise and the ability to perform containerless melting experiments in space allows the opportunity to carry out several unique bubble experiments in space. Gas bubble dissolution studies may be performed at elevated temperatures for large bubbles with negligible bubble motion. Also, bubble nucleation studies may be performed without the disturbing feature of heterogeneous bubble nucleation at the platinum walls. Ground based research efforts are being performed in support of these potential flight experiments.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The preparation and characterization of a lithium borate glass prepared by the gel technique

The preparation of an amorphous lithium borate gel by the metal organic procedure is described. In addition, a preliminary evaluation of the behavior of the gel upon heating is given. In particular the crystallization tendency of the gel is studied with the aid of DTA and X-ray diffraction, and the structural changes in the gel are monitored with the aid of IR spectroscopy. The glass produced from the lithium borate gel is compared to both the gel precursor material and a glass of similar composition prepared by conventional techniques. Specifically, the relevant water contents, crystallization behavior, and structural features are contrasted.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Mathematical Model for Gas Dissolution in Glass

Mathematical model calculates rate of small oxygen-bubble contraction in soda/lime/silicate melts in presence of foreign nondiffusing gas. Process of interest in optical glass fabrication.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On the possibility of critical radius measurements in the homogeneous crystal nucleation of glass

The potential of determining the liquid-crystal surface tension during crystal nucleation in inorganic glasses without measuring the nucleation rate is examined analytically. Attention is focused on the feasibility of measuring the critical radius of the crystal nuclei as a function of temperature in order to obtain the surface tension values. Two approximate expressions are defined for the upper and lower bounds of the bulk free energy of crystallization per unit volume. The expressions, when used for a validated approximation for the critical radius, show that the critical radius is a function of the undercooling and the molar volume. The minimum undercooling necessary for detecting homogeneous crystal nucleation is then calculated, which yields an upper limit to the critical radius in the range 10-15 A. Since the size range is too small for detection, the critical radius is not a useful measure for crystal nucleation studies.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Finite sample size effects in transformation kinetics

The effect of finite sample size on the kinetic law of phase transformations is considered. The case where the second phase develops by a nucleation and growth mechanism is treated under the assumption of isothermal conditions and constant and uniform nucleation rate. It is demonstrated that for spherical particle growth, a thin sample transformation formula given previously is an approximate version of a more general transformation law. The thin sample approximation is shown to be reliable when a certain dimensionless thickness is small. The latter quantity, rather than the actual sample thickness, determines when the usual law of transformation kinetics valid for bulk (large dimension) samples must be modified.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The crystallization of small particles and droplets

A general expression is derived for the volume fraction of material crystallized as a function of time for the situation where boundary effects may be important, and it is applied to a sample consisting of a monodisperse array of small particles. It is assumed that crystallization occurs via homogeneous nucleation followed by crystal growth. The crystallization rate is shown to be controlled by a single dimensionless parameter, beta. Beta exp 1/4 is a dimensionless particle radius which tends to be small when the growth rate is large or when the nucleation rate is small. When beta is large, the general expression for the volume fraction transformed reduces to the standard expression valid for bulk samples. When beta is small, it reduces to the formula used to compute the volume fraction crystallized in droplet undercooling experiments. Hence, the present results are pertinent for the interpretation of some droplet undercooling experiments as well as isothermal DSC and DTA experiments.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Velocity of a freely rising gas bubble in a soda-lime silicate glass melt

A comparison is conducted between measured velocities for the buoyant rise of single bubbles of varying size and composition, in a soda-lime silicate glass melt, with the steady state velocities predicted by the Stokes and Hadamard-Rybczynski formulas. In all cases, the data are noted to fit the Hadamard-Rybczynski expression for steady state rise speed considerably better than the Stokes formula.

Hornyak, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Homogeneous versus heterogeneous crystal nucleation in Li2O-2SiO2 glass

When analyzing crystal nucleation in glasses, it is difficult to distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. A method is proposed to investigate the nature of crystal nucleation in Li2O-2SiO2, and calculations are performed to determine under which conditions saturation effects help ascertain the nature of the nucleation. The capability of detecting impurity particles in unheated glass via standard micrographic techniques (SEM or REM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is explored. Results indicate that if the maximum impurity particle densities do not exceed 2 x 10 to the 7th per cu cm then heterogeneous nucleation may be excluded and most impurity particles with densities in excess of 10 to the 10th per cu cm are detectable by SAXS. It is concluded that crystal nucleation in this system most probably occurs homogeneously.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Dissolving Bubbles in Glass

Analytical expression used to calculate time it takes for stationary bubbles of oxygen and carbon dioxide to dissolve from glass melt. Technique based on analytical expression for bubble radius as function time, with consequences of surface tension included.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Crystallization of Na2O-SiO2 gel and glass

The crystallization behavior of a 19 wt pct soda silica gel and gel-derived glass was compared to that of the ordinary glass of the same composition. Both bulk and ground glass samples were utilized. X-ray diffraction measurements were made to identify the crystalline phases and gauge the extent of crystallization. It was found that the gel crystallized in a distinctive manner, while the gel glass behavior was not qualitatively different from that of the ordinary glass.

Neilson, G. F.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The crystallization behavior and kinetics of a barium fluorozirconate type glass

An investigation of the crystallization behavior of a Zr-Ba-La-Al-F glass which is subjected to isothermal heat treatments is presented. The number and nature of the crystalline phases which form and their nucleation sites are determined at three temperatures. Also, the growth rate and volume fraction of crystals which nucleate internally in the glass, when heated at 320 C, are determined as a function of time.

Neilson, G. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Elevation of liquidus temperature in a gel-derived Na2O-SiO2 glass

The liquidus temperatures of a 19 wt% soda-silica glass prepared by gel and conventional techniques were determined. X-ray diffraction measurements of the glasses which were heat-treated at several temperatures were used to experimentally determine the liquidus temperatures. It was found that the gel-derived glass has an elevated liquidus. This result is discussed in relation to the previous discovery that the immiscibility temperature of this gel-derived glass is elevated

Weinberg, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Glass research in space

Opportunities and problems associated with conducting containerless glass experiments in a microgravity environment are examined. Particular aspects of gel-derived glasses for space processing research are discussed, along with current space-related research activities in areas of amorphous phase separation, crystallization, and heterogeneous and homogeneous crystal nucleation.

Neilson, G. F.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Gas Diffusion in Fluids Containing Bubbles

Mathematical model describes movement of gases in fluid containing many bubbles. Model makes it possible to predict growth and shrink age of bubbles as function of time. New model overcomes complexities involved in analysis of varying conditions by making two simplifying assumptions. It treats bubbles as point sources, and it employs approximate expression for gas concentration gradient at liquid/bubble interface. In particular, it is expected to help in developing processes for production of high-quality optical glasses in space.

Zak, M.↗