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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

Degradation mechanisms of materials for large space systems in low Earth orbit

Degradation was explored of various materials used in aerospace vehicles after severe loss of polymeric material coatings (Kapton) was observed on an early shuttle flight in low Earth orbit. Since atomic oxygen is the major component of the atmosphere at 300 km, and the shuttle's orbital velocity produced relative motion corresponding to approx. 5 eV of oxygen energy, it was natural to attribute much of this degradation to oxygen interaction. This assumption was tested using large volume vacuum systems and ion beam sources, in an exploratory effort to produce atomic oxygen of the appropriate energy, and to observe mass loss from various samples as well as optical radiation. Several investigations were initiated and the results of these investigations are presented in four papers. These papers are summarized. They are entitled: (1) The Space Shuttle Glow; (2) Laboratory Degradation of Kapton in a Low Energy Oxygen Ion Beam; (3) The Energy Dependence and Surface Morphology of Kapton Degradation Under Atomic Oxygen Bombardment; and (4) Surface Analysis of STS 8 Samples.

Gordon, William L.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dynamic Interfacial Design in Adaptive Hybrid Materials Enables Reversible and Tunable Mechano-Optic Smart Responses

Next-generation polymeric materials are shifting toward adaptive and interactive behaviors of living systems; however, designing materials that can reversibly modulate optical properties under mechanical deformation while maintaining mechanical robustness remains a key challenge. Here, we report a mechanically robust vitrimer-based adaptive hybrid material (AHM) that exhibits a stretch-induced reversible transparency-to-opacity transition, enabled by the integration of dynamic interactions at the polymer–silica nanoparticle interface and controlled nanoparticle self-assembly. The AHM combines boronic ester–functionalized polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-polystyrene (S-Bpin) with diol-functionalized silica nanoparticles (diol-SiNPs) to form a hybrid network hosting both dynamic boronic ester and hydrogen-bonding interactions. These reversible linkages facilitate controlled nanoparticle self-assembly and enable strain-induced nanoparticle alignment/aggregation. Upon stretching, SiNP-rich domains align and aggregate within the polymer matrix, while local modulus mismatch between stiff aggregated SiNP/borylated-styrene-rich regions and the softer elastomeric midblock induces surface microwrinkle formation. These internal aggregates and surface wrinkles cooperatively enhance light scattering, producing the opaque state under strain. Furthermore, the tailored AHM exhibits high toughness, thermomechanical stability, reprocessability, and programmable shape-memory behavior. This work presents a dynamic interfacial design strategy for mechanically robust, optically reconfigurable, and reusable soft materials for adaptive optics, smart windows, sensing, soft robotics, and circular smart-material platforms.

adaptive hybrid materials↗
NASA NTRS1997

Fungal degradation of fiber-reinforced composite materials

As described in a previous report, a fungal consortium isolated from degraded polymeric materials was capable of growth on presterilized coupons of five composites, resulting in deep penetration into the interior of all materials within five weeks. Data describing the utilization of composite constituents as nutrients for the microflora are described in this article. Increased microbial growth was observed when composite extract was incubated with the fungal inoculum at ambient temperatures. Scanning electron microscopic observation of carbon fibers incubated with a naturally developed population of microorganisms showed the formation of bacterial biofilms on the fiber surfaces, suggesting possible utilization of the fiber chemical sizing as carbon and energy sources. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to monitor the phenomena occurring at the fiber-matrix interfaces. Significant differences were observed between inoculated and sterile panels of the composite materials. A progressive decline in impedance was detected in the inoculated panels. Several reaction steps may be involved in the degradation process. Initial ingress of water into the resin matrix appeared to be followed by degradation of fiber surfaces, and separation of fibers from the resin matrix. This investigation suggested that composite materials are susceptible to microbial attack by providing nutrients for growth.

Environmental Microbiology↗
NASA NTRS2011

Possible Responsibility of Silicone Materials for Degradation of the CO2 Removal System in the International Space Station

From data concerning the degradation of the CO2 removal system in the International Space Station (ISS) two important features were apparent: (1) The atmosphere within the International Space Station (ISS) contained many organic compounds including alcohols, halocarbons, aldehydes, esters, and ketones, inter alia. Various cyclosiloxanes Dn, hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3) and its higher homologs (D4) and (D5) are also present presumably due to offgassing. (2) Screens within the zeolite-containing canisters, used for the removal of CO2, exhibited partial clogging due to zeolitic fragments (dust) along with "sticky" residues, that in toto significantly reduced the efficiency of the CO2 removal process. Samples of the ISS fresh zeolite, used zeolite, filter clogging zeolite particles and residual polymeric materials were examined using, inter alia, NMR, EM and HRSEM. These data were compared to equivalent samples obtained prior and subsequent to Dn polymerization experiments performed in our laboratories using the clean ISS zeolite samples as catalyst. Polysiloxane materials produced were essentially equivalent in the two cases and the EM images demonstrate a remarkable similarity between the ISS filter zeolite samples and the post-polymerization zeolite material from our experiments. In this regard even the changes in the Al/Si ratio from the virgin zeolite material to the filter samples and the post-polymerization laboratory samples samples is noteworthy. This research was supported by a contract from the Boeing Company

Baeza, Mario↗
NASA NTRS1982

Strong thin membrane structure for use as solar sail comprising substrate with reflective coating on one surface and an infra red emissivity increasing coating on the other surface

Production of strong lightweight membrane structure by applying a thin reflective coating such as aluminum to a rotating cylinder, applying a mesh material such as nylon over the aluminum coating, coating the mesh overlying the aluminum with a polymerizing material such as a para-xylylene monomer gas to polymerize as a film bound to the mesh and the aluminum, and applying an emissivity increasing material such as chromium and silicon monoxide to the polymer film to disperse such material colloidally into the growing polymer film, or applying such material to the final polymer film, and removing the resulting membrane structure from the cylinder. Alternatively, such membrane structure can be formed by etching a substrate in the form of an organic film such as a polyimide, or a metal foil, to remove material from the substrate and reduce its thickness, applying a thin reflective coating such as aluminum on one side of the substrate and applying an emissivity increasing coating such as chromium and silicon monoxide on the reverse side of the substrate.

Frazer, Robert E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Study of balloon and thermal control material degradation aboard LDEF

The initial results of analysis performed on a number of polymeric materials which were exposed aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) are discussed. These materials include two typical high altitude balloon films (a polyester and a polyethylene) and silver-backed Teflon from thermal control blanket samples. The techniques used for characterizing changes in mechanical properties, chemical structure and surface morphology include Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis.

Letton, Alan↗
NASA NTRS2001

Science Data Report for the Optical Properties Monitor (OPM) Experiment

This science data report describes the Optical Properties Monitor (OPM) experiment and the data gathered during its 9-mo exposure on the Mir space station. Three independent optical instruments made up OPM: an integrating sphere spectral reflectometer, vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer, and a total integrated scatter instrument. Selected materials were exposed to the low-Earth orbit, and their performance monitored in situ by the OPM instruments. Coinvestigators from four NASA Centers, five International Space Station contractors, one university, two Department of Defense organizations, and the Russian space company, Energia, contributed samples to this experiment. These materials included a number of thermal control coatings, optical materials, polymeric films, nanocomposites, and other state-of-the-art materials. Degradation of some materials, including aluminum conversion coatings and Beta cloth, was greater than expected. The OPM experiment was launched aboard the Space Shuttle on mission STS-81 in January 1997 and transferred to the Mir space station. An extravehicular activity (EVA) was performed in April 1997 to attach the OPM experiment to the outside of the Mir/Shuttle Docking Module for space environment exposure. OPM was retrieved during an EVA in January 1998 and was returned to Earth on board the Space Shuttle on mission STS-89.

Wilkes, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1998

The Effects of Ground and Space Processing on the Properties of Organic, Polymeric, and Colloidal Materials

In recent years, a great deal of interest has been directed toward the use of organic materials in the development of high-efficiency optoelectronic and phototonic devices. There is a myriad of possibilities among organic materials which allow flexibility in the design of unique structures with a variety of functional groups. The use of nonlinear optical (NLO) organic materials as thin film wave-guides allows full exploitation of their desirable qualifies by permitting long interaction lengths and large susceptibilities allowing modest power input. There are several methods in use to prepare thin films such as Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and self-assembly techniques, vapor deposition, growth from sheared solution or melt, and melt growth between glass plates. Organic-based materials have many features that make them desirable for use in optical devices, such as high second-and third-order nonlinearity, flexibility of molecular design, and damage resistance to optical radiation. However, their use in devices has been hindered by processing difficulties for crystals and thin films. We discuss the potential role of microgravity processing of a few organic and polymeric materials. It is of interest to note how materials with second-and third-order NLO behavior may be improved in a diffusion-limited environment and ways in which convection may be detrimental to these materials. We focus our discussion on third-order materials for all-optical switching, and second-order materials for frequency conversion and electrooptics. The goal of minimizing optical loss obviously depends on processing methods. For solution-based processes, such as solution crystal growth and solution photopolymerization, it is well known that thermal and solutal density gradients can initiate buoyancy-driven convection. Resultant fluid flows can affect transport of material to and from growth interfaces and become manifest in the morphology and homogeneity of the growing film or crystal. Likewise, buoyancy-driven convection can hinder production of defect-free, high-quality crystals or films during crystal and film growth by vapor deposition.

Frazier, Donald O.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Challenges in Laser Sintering of Melt-Processable Thermoset Imide Resin

Polymer Laser Sintering (LS) is an additive manufacturing technique that builds 3D models layer by layer using a laser to selectively melt cross sections in powdered polymeric materials, following sequential slices of the CAD model. LS generally uses thermoplastic polymeric powders, such as polyamides (i.e. Nylon), and the resultant 3D objects are often weaker in their strength compared to traditionally processed materials, due to the lack of polymer inter-chain connection in the z-direction. The objective of this project is to investigate the possibility of printing a melt-processable RTM370 imide resin powder terminated with reactive phenylethynyl groups by LS, followed by a postcure in order to promote additional crosslinking to achieve higher temperature (250-300 C) capability. A preliminary study to build tensile specimens by LS and the corresponding DSC and rheology study of RTM370 during LS process is presented.

Additive Manufacturing↗
NASA NTRS2016

Challenges in Laser Sintering of Thermoset Imide Resin

Polymer Laser Sintering (LS) is an additive manufacturing technique that builds 3D models layer by layer using a laser to selectively melt cross sections in powdered polymeric materials, following sequential slices of the CAD model. LS generally uses thermoplastic polymeric powders, such as polyamides (i.e. Nylon), and the resultant 3D objects are often weaker in their strength compared to traditionally processed materials, due to the lack of polymer inter-chain connection in the z-direction. The objective of this project is to investigate the possibility of printing a melt-processable RTM370 imide resin powder terminated with reactive phenylethynyl groups by LS, followed by a postcure in order to promote additional crosslinking to achieve higher temperature (250-300 C) capability. A preliminary study to build tensile specimens by LS and the corresponding DSC and rheology study of RTM370 during LS process is presented.

Additive Manufacturing↗
NASA NTRS2019

Laser Sintering of Thermoset Polyimide Composites

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique that builds 3D models layer by layer using a laser to selectively melt cross sections in powdered polymeric materials, following sequential slices of the CAD model. SLS generally uses thermoplastic polymeric powders, such as polyamides (i.e. Nylon), and the resultant 3D objects are often weaker in their strength compared to traditionally processed materials, due to the lack of polymer inter-chain connection in the z-direction. Our previous effort showed the challenges of printing a melt-processable RTM370 imide resin powder terminated with reactive 4-phenylethynylphthalic anhydride by LS, due to its inherently low viscosity of these oligomers. This paper presented the first successful 3D printing of high temperature carbon fiber filled thermoset polyimide composites, followed by post cure cycles to promote additional crosslinking for achieving higher temperature (Tg = 370 °C) capability. The processes to build tensile specimens and a component by LS, and the characterization of RTM370 imide resin by DSC and rheology as well as evaluation of the LS printed polyimide composite specimens by SEM and mechanical tests will be discussed.

Polyimide Composites↗
DOE OSTI2024

High Refractive Index Adhesives for Laser Glass Cladding Applications (ABBREVIATED Report)

To eliminate parasitic light oscillations (amplified spontaneous emission (ASE)), high energy laser systems often utilize polymeric materials to adhere optically absorptive cladding materials to laser gain media (glass or crystal). Most of these polymeric optical adhesives are index matched to lower index gain media, and there was no capability to achieve refractive indices (RI) greater than 1.60 with low color, while also maintaining mechanical compliance to serve as adhesives for cladding applications. The completion of LDRD 23-FS-043 shows we can chemically develop novel suitable adhesive candidates with refractive indices above 1.64 at 532 nm while also exhibiting Shore A hardness between 50-90, with high optical clarity, low color, and minimal haze for films ~1-2 mm thick (84 %Transmission at 532 nm). This will enable us to begin mapping a process space to allow future customizable adhesive formulations for building a variety of laser systems with tunable refractive index matching for various gain and cladding media.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1993

High temperature polymer from maleimide-acetylene terminated monomers

Thermally stable, glassy polymeric materials were prepared from maleimide-acetylene terminated monomeric materials by several methods. The monomers were heated to self-polymerize. The A-B structure of the monomer allowed it to polymerize with either bismaleimide monomers/oligomers or bis-acetylene monomers/oligomers. Copolymerization can also take place by mixing bismaleimide and bisacetylene monomers/oligomers with the maleimide-acetylene terminated monomers to yield homogenous glassy polymers.

Gerber, Margaret K.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Nanotube Production and Applications at Johnson Space Center

Promise of applications of carbon nanotubes has led to an intense effort at NASA/JSC, especially in the area of nanotube composites. Using the extraordinary mechanical strength of nanotubes, NASA hopes to design this revolutionary lightweight material for use in aerospace applications. Current research focuses on structural polymeric materials to attempt to lower the weight of spacecraft necessary for interplanetary missions. Other applications of nanotubes are also of interest for energy storage, gas storage, nanoelectronics, field emission, and biomedical applications. In pursuit of these goals, we have set up both laser and arc production processes for nanotubes. An in-depth diagnostic study of the plasma plume in front of the laser target has been studied to try to determine nanotube growth mechanisms. Complementary studies of characterization of nanotube product have added to knowledge of growth conditions. Results of our preliminary experiments in incorporating nanotubes into composites will be presented. Morphology and mechanical properties of the nanotubes composites will be discussed.

Nikolaev, Pavel↗
NASA NTRS2007

Process for making polymers comprising derivatized carbon nanotubes and compositions thereof

The present invention incorporates new processes for blending derivatized carbon nanotubes into polymer matrices to create new polymer/composite materials. When modified with suitable chemical groups using diazonium chemistry, the nanotubes can be made chemically compatible with a polymer matrix, allowing transfer of the properties of the nanotubes (such as mechanical strength) to the properties of the composite material as a whole. To achieve this, the derivatized (modified) carbon nanotubes are physically blended with the polymeric material, and/or, if desired, allowed to react at ambient or elevated temperature. These methods can be utilized to append functionalities to the nanotubes that will further covalently bond to the host polymer matrix, or directly between two tubes themselves. Furthermore, the nanotubes can be used as a generator of polymer growth, wherein the nanotubes are derivatized with a functional group that is an active part of a polymerization process, which would also result in a composite material in which the carbon nanotubes are chemically involved.

Tour, James M.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Encapsulation Materials Tailored to Perovskite Photovoltaics

The work combines NREL as the world leader in perovskite and polymeric materials, and teams them up with The Dow Chemical Company, the world leader in commercial production of PV encapsulation materials. The team will design and evaluate encapsulation materials that are tailored to perovskite photovoltaics. Demonstration of polyolefin-based encapsulants for perovskite PV will be impactful for a number of reasons: 1) There is no clear-cut choice for encapsulation for perovskite PV to date. 2) There is high synthetic control of the material properties for future perovskite module designs. 3) Among the candidate materials, they have the highest barrier properties, 4) Polyolefins are the most prevalent (>20 million metric tons consumed in the US alone) and inexpensive (<1.5 $USD/kg) polymers used worldwide. 5) They are recyclable and may play a role in future of circular PV materials. 6) They are manufactured domestically. The work also highlights careful design of perovskite transport layer materials for surviving vacuum encapsulation.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2012

Safety and Long-Term Performance of Lithium-ion Pouch Cells

Lithium-ion batteries have the highest energy density of the batteries available in the commercial market today. Although most lithium-ion cell designs use a metal can design, this has changed significantly in recent years. Cell designs are offered in the pouch format as they offer better volumetric and gravimetric energy densities and in some cases, higher tolerance to abuse or off-nominal conditions. In the past decade, several state-of-the-art lithium-ion pouch cell designs have been tested. The pouch cell designs have become more robust in the past two years but there are still a few issues that need to be looked into for optimization. The pouch cells seem to have a tendency to swell when left in storage under ambient conditions. The cells also swell under overvoltage and undervoltage conditions. A significant issue that has been observed is the swelling of the cells under a vacuum condition which could lead to deformation of the cell pouch after this exposure. This last factor would be very critical in the use of these cell designs for space applications as vacuum exposure is used to check for cell and battery leaks before it is flown into space. In rare cases, corrosion of the aluminum layer of the pouches has been observed in stored cells. Pouch material analysis has been carried out in an effort to understand the strength of the pouches and determine if this is a factor in the corrosion as well as unsafe condition of the cells as deformation of the inner layers of the pouch could occur when the cells swell under the various conditions described above. Pouch materials are typically aluminized plastic, made up of a layer of Al sandwiched between one or more layers of polymeric material. Deformations or cell manufacturing processes could lead to a compromise of the inner polymeric layer/s of the pouch leading to the corrosion of the Al layer in the aluminized pouch material. The safety of the pouch cell designs has been determined for cells from various manufacturers. The results are varied and in some cases, unexpected. This paper presents a summary of the tests carried out on a few li-ion pouch cell designs from various cell manufacturers. The data will include performance under different conditions specifically cycling under vacuum conditions with and without restraints as well as safety test data. The presentation will also include detailed analysis of the pouch material for the cells studied.

Jeevarajan, Judith↗