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NASA NTRS1974

Iron abundance and magnetic permeability of the moon

A larger set of simultaneous data from the Apollo 12 lunar surface magnetometer and the Explorer 35 Ames magnetometer are used to construct a whole-moon hysteresis curve, from which a new value of global lunar permeability is determined to be mu = 1.012 + or - 0.006. The corresponding global induced dipole moment is 2.1 times ten to the eighteenth power gauss-cu cm for typical inducing fields of one ten-thousandth gauss in the lunar environment. From the permeability measurement, lunar free iron abundance is determined to be 2.5 + or - 2.0 wt %. Total iron abundance (sum of iron in the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states) is calculated for two assumed compositional models of the lunar interior: a free iron/orthopyroxene lunar composition and a free iron/olivine composition. The overall lunar total iron abundance is determined to be 9.0 + or - 4.7 wt %. Other lunar models with a small iron core and with a shallow iron-rich layer are discussed in light of the measured global permeability. Effects on permeability and iron content calculations due to a possible lunar ionosphere are also considered.

Parkin, C. W.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Practical method for highly accurate large-scale surface calculations

An accurate and efficient film linearized muffin-tin orbital (FLMTO) technique for surface electronic-structure calculations is presented which uses only 60-70 basis functions, as opposed to the 300 functions used in the linear augmented plane-wave method. Calculations for three different (3d and 4d) transition-metal films resulted in high quality results for five-layer slabs of Cu(001), Fe(001), and Ru(001), in addition to good results for the work functions and projected density of states. By retaining the LMTO small basis size, computer time and memory are reduced, making practical the study of systems with a larger number of atoms in the two-dimensional unit cell.

Fernando, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Effect of Air and Vacuum Storage on the Tensile Properties of X-Ray Exposed Aluminized-FEP

Metallized Teflon(Registered Trademark) FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), a common spacecraft thermal control material, from the exterior layer of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has become embrittled and suffers from extensive cracking. Teflon samples retrieved during Hubble servicing missions and from the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) indicate that there may be continued degradation in tensile properties over time. An investigation has been conducted to evaluate the effect of air and vacuum storage on the mechanical properties of x-ray exposed FEP. Aluminized-FEP (Al-FEP) tensile samples were irradiated with 15.3 kV Cu x-rays and stored in air or under vacuum for various time periods. Tensile data indicate that samples stored in air display larger decreases in tensile properties than for samples stored under vacuum. Air-stored samples developed a hazy appearance, which corresponded to a roughening of the aluminized surface. Optical property changes were also characterized. These findings indicate that air exposure plays a role in the degradation of irradiated FEP, therefore proper sample handling and storage is necessary with materials retrieved from space.

deGroh, Kim K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Wet chemical techniques for passivation of YBa2Cu3O7(7-x)

Wet chemical techniques are described for treatment of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) surfaces, resulting in the formation of native compounds with little or no reactivity to water. Promising native compounds include CuI, BaSO4, CuS, Cu2S, and the oxalates, all of which are either insoluble or have very low solubility in water. Treatment with dilute HI results in the formation of a native iodide film which is 80-90 percent CuI with small amounts of YI3 and BaI2. Treatment with dilute H2SO4 results in the formation of a film which is 95 percent BaSO4 and 5 percent Y2(SO4)3. Cu2S is formed on the surface with a dilute Na2S solution. An oxalate film with equal amounts of Y2(C2O4)3 and BaC2O4 results from treatment with dilute oxalic acid. X-ray photoelectron spectra show no significant changes when the sulfide, sulfate, or oxalate films are dipped in water, while the iodide film shows evidence of Cu(OH)2 formation.

Vasquez, R. P.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Mechanical Characterization of Reactively Brazed Metal-Composite Joints for Heat Rejection Systems

The joining of metal tubes to composite plates is required for heat-rejection components in several space applications. Currently a number of different braze compositions are being evaluated as to their effectiveness. Such tube-plate configurations cannot be represented by traditional methods of testing, e.g., lap joints. The joined region is not between two flat surfaces, but rather between a flat surface and a curved surface. Therefore, several tests have been employed to ascertain the effectiveness of the different braze approaches in tension and in shear that are both simple and representative of the actual system and relatively straightforward in analysis. The results of these "tube tests" will be discussed for the three different braze compositions, Cu-ABA, Ti-Cu-Sil, and Ti-Cu-Ni. In addition, fracture analysis of the failed joints was performed and offers insights into the cause of joint failure and the distinctions which need to be made between the "strength" of a joint versus the "load carrying ability" of a joint.

Morscher, Gregory N.↗

NASA NTRS2006

Chromite-Plagioclase Assemblages as a New Shock Indicator; Implications for the Shock and Thermal Histories of Ordinary Chondrites

Chromite in ordinary chondrites (OC) can be used as a shock indicator. A survey of 76 equilibrated H, L and LL chondrites shows that unshocked chromite grains occur in equant, subhedral and rounded morphologies surrounded by silicate or intergrown with metallic Fe-Ni and/or troilite. Some unmelted chromite grains are fractured or crushed during whole-rock brecciation. Others are transected by opaque veins; the veins form when impacts cause localized heating of metal-troilite intergrowths above the Fe-FeS eutectic (988 C), mobilization of metal-troilite melts, and penetration of the melt into fractures in chromite grains. Chromite-plagioclase assemblages occur in nearly every shock-stage S3-S6 OC; the assemblages range in size from 20-300 microns and consist of 0.2-20-micron-size euhedral, subhedral, anhedral and rounded chromite grains surrounded by plagioclase or glass of plagioclase composition. Plagioclase has a low impedance to shock compression. Heat from shock-melted plagioclase caused adjacent chromite grains to melt; chromite grains crystallized from this melt. Those chromite grains in the assemblages that are completely surrounded by plagioclase are generally richer in Al2O3, than unmelted, matrix chromite grains in the same meteorite. Chromite veinlets (typically 0.5-2 microns thick and 10-300 microns long) occur typically in the vicinity of chromite-plagioclase assemblages. The veinlets formed from chromite-plagioclase melts that were injected into fractures in neighboring silicate grains; chromite crystallized in the fractures and the residual plagioclase-rich melt continued to flow, eventually pooling to form plagioclase-rich melt pockets. Chromite-rich chondrules (consisting mainly of olivine, plagioclase-normative mesostasis, and 5-15 vol.% chromite) occur in many shocked OC and OC regolith breccias but they are absent from primitive type-3 OC. They may have formed by impact melting chromite, plagioclase and adjacent mafic silicates during higher-energy shock events. The melt was jetted from the impact site and formed droplets due to surface tension. Crystallization of these droplets may have commenced in flight, prior to landing on the parent-body surface. Chromite-plagioclase assemblages and chromite veinlets occur in 25 out of 25 shock-stage S1 OC of petrologic type 5 and 6 that I examined. Although these rocks contain unstrained olivine with sharp optical extinction, most possess other shock indicators such as extensive silicate darkening, numerous occurrences of metallic Cu, polycrystalline troilite, and opaque veins. It seems likely that these rocks were shocked to levels at least as high as shock-stage S3 and then annealed by heat generated during the shock event. During annealing, the olivine crystal lattices healed but other shock indicators survived. Published Ar-Ar age data for some SI OC indicate that many shock and annealing events occurred very early in the history of the parent asteroids. The common occurrence of shocked and annealed OC is consistent with collisions being a major mechanism responsible for metamorphosing OC.

Rubin, Alan E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Low earth orbit atomic oxygen effects on surfaces

Significant effects have been observed on surfaces in the Shuttle Orbiter payload bay and on some experiments due to exposure to the LEO environment. These effects, which are predominantly manifested as surface recession and therefore mass loss, appear to arise from oxidation from exposure to atomic oxygen, the major LEO component. Rates of interaction were measured on two experiments for a large group of materials and specifically for thin organic films, and are in the range of 2-3 x 10 to the 24th cu cm/atom. These rates are large enough to present significant problems for solar arrays which use similar thin films for solar-cell support.

Leger, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Equivalent crystal theory of alloys

Equivalent Crystal Theory (ECT) is a new, semi-empirical approach to calculating the energetics of a solid with defects. The theory has successfully reproduced surface energies in metals and semiconductors. The theory of binary alloys to date, both with first-principles and semi-empirical models, has not been very successful in predicting the energetics of alloys. This procedure is used to predict the heats of formation, cohesive energy, and lattice parameter of binary alloys of Cu, Ni, Al, Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt as functions of composition. The procedure accurately reproduces the heats of formation versus composition curves for a variety of binary alloys. The results are then compared with other approaches such as the embedded atom and lattice parameters of alloys from pure metal properties more accurately than Vegard's law is presented.

Bozzolo, Guillermo↗

NASA NTRS2000

Friction and Wear Properties of Selected Solid Lubricating Films: Magnetron-Sputtered and Plasma-Assisted, Chemical-Vapor-Deposited Diamondlike Carbon Films - Part 3

To evaluate commercially developed dry solid film lubricants for aerospace bearing applications, an investigation was conducted to examine the friction and wear behavior of magnetron-sputtered diamondlike carbon (MS DLC) and plasma-assisted, chemical-vapor-deposited diamondlike carbon (PACVD DLC) films in sliding contact with 6-mm-diameter American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 440C stainless steel balls. Unidirectional sliding friction experiments were conducted with a load of 5.9 N (600 g), a mean Hertzian contact pressure of 0.79 GPa (maximum Hertzian contact pressure of L-2 GPa), and a sliding velocity of 0.2 m/s. The experiments were conducted at room temperature in three environments: ultrahigh vacuum (vacuum pressure, 7x10(exp -7) Pa), humid air (relative humidity, approx.20 percent), and dry nitrogen (relative humidity, <1 percent). The resultant films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and surface profilometry. Marked differences in the friction and wear of the DLC films investigated herein resulted from the environmental conditions. The main criteria for judging the performance of the DLC films were coefficient of friction and wear rate, which had to be less than 0.3 and on the order of 10(exp -6) cu mm/N-m or less, respectively. MS DLC films and PACVD DLC films met the criteria in humid air and dry nitrogen but failed in ultrahigh vacuum, where the coefficients of friction were greater than the criterion, 0.3. In sliding contact with 440C stainless steel balls in all three environments the PACVD DLC films exhibited better tribological performance (i.e., lower friction and wear) than the MS DLC films. All sliding involved adhesive transfer of wear materials: transfer of DLC wear debris to the counterpart 440C stainless steel and transfer of 440C stainless steel wear debris to the counterpart DLC film.

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Understanding the Response of Common Spacecraft Shields to Hypervelocity Impacts of Meteorite and Other Terrestrial Analog Materials

Micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) populations can vary significantly in composition, density, and homogeneity. Hypervelocity testing campaigns intended to design and optimize MMOD shields for spacecraft are recognizing the need to investigate shield response from different types of impactors that span the range of densities observed in the MMOD population, such as nylon, Al, Al 2 O 3 , steel, and Cu. These tests, however, still pre-dominantly employ spherical and homogenous projectiles. Adding any compositional or mineralogical complexity to the impactor, such as what would be expected from a polymineralic micrometeoroid, for ex-ample, will be concomitant with a more complex shockwave structure in the projectile after it impacts the outer surface of any type of MMOD shield. The magnitude of these complexities will depend on how varied the mineralogy of the projectile is, but in the case of a metal-bearing chondrite, the disparate shock impendence between adjacent metal and silicate grains will potentially create localized areas of shock focusing (local increase in nominal shock pressure), or shock shadowing (local decrease in nominal shock pressure). The response of a MMOD shield is generally predicted using a ballistic limit equation – a semiempirical curve, derived from hypervelocity testing data, that denotes a particle diameter (for a given set of impact conditions such as projectile density and impact angle) when a shield will fail as a function of impact speed. These curves exhibit inflection points as a function of impact speed that represent when the projectile experiences sufficient pressure to fragment, melt, or vaporize. The introduction of shock focusing and shadowing in a heterogenous projectile will add uncertainty to the predicted pressures needed to go through each transition, leading to increased uncertainty in the expected performance of the MMOD shield. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the performance of MMOD shields in hypervelocity tests against more complex, natural projectile materials. To this end we have conducted a comparative test series to begin investigating the impact damage caused by meteoritic and terrestrial-analog projectiles, to that of spherical Al projectiles of similar mass.

Impact testing↗

NASA NTRS1980

On the search for an intrinsic magnetic field at Venus

Magnetic field observations obtained by the Pioneer Venus orbiter at low altitude are now available for two sets of orbits in the Venus wake. Data from these 130 orbits are examined for possible surface correlated features or any intrinsic magnetic moment. No surface correlated magnetic fields are observed, but the threshold for the detectability of such fields at Venus is about an order of magnitude greater than at the moon. A surface feature of 10 deg extent would have to create an anomaly of at least 5 gammas at 200 km to be detected in the Pioneer Venus data. Using measurements averaged in 72 10 x 10 deg bins, a planetary magnetic dipole moment of 0.87 + or - 3.00 x 10 to the 21st gauss-cu cm is obtained. Thus the upper limit of the present day Venus moment is less than 4 x 10 to the -5th of the terrestrial moment.

Russell, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Limits on modes of lithospheric heat transport on Venus from impact crater density

Based on the observed density of impact craters on the Venus surface obtained from Venera 15-16 radar images, a formalism to estimate the upper bounds on the contributions made to lithospheric heat transport by volcanism and lithospheric recycling is presented. The Venera 15-16 data, if representative of the entire planet, limit the average rate of volcanic resurfacing on Venus to less than 2 cu km/yr (corresponding to less than 1 percent of the global heat loss), and limit the rate of lithospheric recycling to less than 1.5 sq km/yr (and probably to less than 0.5 sq km/yr), corresponding to 25 percent (and to 9 percent) of the global heat loss. The present results indicate that heat loss at lithospheric levels in Venus is dominated by conduction.

Grimm, Robert E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Composition variations in pulsed-laser-deposited Y-Ba-Cu-O thin films as a function of deposition parameters

The composition of pulsed-ultraviolet-laser-deposited Y-Ba-Cu-O films was examined as a function of position across the substrate, laser fluence, laser spot size, substrate temperature, target conditioning, oxygen pressure and target-substrate distance. Laser fluence, laser spot size, and substrate temperature were found to have little effect on composition within the range investigated. Ablation from a fresh target surface results in films enriched in copper and barium, both of which decrease in concentration until a steady state condition is achieved. Oxygen pressure and target-substrate distance have a significant effect on film composition. In vacuum, copper and barium are slightly concentrated at the center of deposition. With the introduction of an oxygen background pressure, scattering results in copper and barium depletion in the deposition center, an effect which increases with increasing target-substrate distance. A balancing of these two effects results in stoichiometric deposition.

Foote, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Electronic structure and the van Hove singularity scenario in high-T(sub c)H(g)Ba2CuO(4+delta) superconductors

The electronic structure and the hole concentrations in the high Tc superconductor HgBa2CuO(4+delta) (delta = O, 1) has been investigated by employing a first principles full potential self-consistent LMTO method with the local density functional theory. The scalar relativistic effects have been considered. The hole concentrations of the Cu-d and O-p(x,y) orbitals are seen to be larger for the HgBaCuO5 system than those of the HgBaCuO4 solid. However, the van Hove singularity (vHs) induced Cu-d and O-p peak which is seen to lie comparatively away and above the Fermi level in the delta = 1 system shifts towards the Fermi level in the delta = 0 system. Thus, the superconducting behavior appears to originate from the occurrence of the vHs peak at the Fermi level. The Fermi surface nesting area in the delta = 0 compound is seen to be larger than in the delta = 1 compound. The calculation reveals that the increase in pressure on the crystal enhances the hole concentrations but without showing any optimum value, On the other hand, the vHs peak approaches to-wards the Fermi level with pressure and crosses the Fermi surface near V/Vo approximately equals 0.625 (V and Vo are the crystal volumes at high and normal pressures, respectively). Our calculated value of the bulk modulus equal to 0.626 Mbar predicts the occurrence of this crossover at about 24 GPa which is in complete agreement with the experimental value. At this pressure the compound has maximum nesting area and self-doped behavior.

Agrawal, Bal K.↗

NASA NTRS2016

The Effects of High Density on the X-ray Spectrum Reflected from Accretion Discs Around Black Holes

Current models of the spectrum of X-rays reflected from accretion discs around black holes and other compact objects are commonly calculated assuming that the density of the disc atmosphere is constant within several Thomson depths from the irradiated surface. An important simplifying assumption of these models is that the ionization structure of the gas is completely specified by a single, fixed value of the ionization parameter (xi), which is the ratio of the incident flux to the gas density. The density is typically fixed at n(sub e) = 10(exp 15) per cu cm. Motivated by observations, we consider higher densities in the calculation of the reflected spectrum. We show by computing model spectra for n(sub e) approximately greater than 10(exp 17) per cu cm that high-density effects significantly modify reflection spectra. The main effect is to boost the thermal continuum at energies 2 approximately less than keV. We discuss the implications of these results for interpreting observations of both active galactic nuclei and black hole binaries. We also discuss the limitations of our models imposed by the quality of the atomic data currently available.

accretion↗

NASA NTRS1985

Reaction of metals in lower earth orbit during Space Shuttle flight 41-G

The effects of ambient space environment on metals were studied by exposing specimens of Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Cr, Al, Pt, and Pd on flight 41-G (STS-17). Data obtained by ellipsometry (ELL), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) before and after flight are summarized. Although the effects of space environment were most pronounced for silver, there were significant changes in the surface properties of the majority of the other metals. The surface optical constants proved to be the most sensitive measure of surface changes. These changes are attributed to the interaction of the metals with atomic oxygen.

Fromhold, A. T., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Hot gas, regenerative, supported H.sub.2 S sorbents

Efficient, regenerable sorbents for removal of H.sub.2 S from moderately high temperature (usually 200.degree. C.-550.degree.C.) gas streams comprise a porous, high surface area aluminosilicate support, suitably a zeolite, and most preferably a sodium deficient zeolite containing 1 to 20 weight percent of binary metal oxides. The binary oxides are a mixture of a Group VB or VIB metal oxide with a Group IB, IIB or VIII metal oxide such as V-Zn-O, V-Cu-O, Cu-Mo-O, Zn-Mo-O or Fe-Mo-O contained in the support. The sorbent effectively removes H.sub.2 S from the host gas stream in high efficiency and can be repetitively regenerated at least 10 times without loss of activity.

Voecks, Gerald E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Properties of GaN grown on sapphire substrates

Epitaxial growth of GaN on sapphire substrates using an open-tube growth furnace has been carried out to study the effects of substrate orientation and transfer gas upon the properties of the layers. It has been found that for the (0001) substrates, surface appearance was virtually independent of carrier gas and of doping levels. For the (1(-1)02) substrates surface faceting was greatly reduced when He was used as a transfer gas as opposed to H2. Faceting was also reduced when the GaN was doped with Zn, and the best surfaces for the (1(-1)02) substrates were obtained in a Zn-doped run using He as the transfer gas. The best sample in terms of electrical properties for the (1(-1)02) substrate had a mobility greater than 400 sq cm/V per sec and a carrier concentration of about 10 to the 17th per cu cm. This sample was undoped and used He as the transfer gas. The best (0001) sample was also grown undoped with He as the transfer gas and had a mobility of 300 sq cm/V per sec and a carrier concentration of 1 x 10 to the 18th per cu cm.

Crouch, R. K.↗