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At least 307 records · Page 17

Progress in net shape fabrication of alpha SiC turbine components

The development status of component technology in an automotive gas turbine Ceramic Applications in Turbine Engines program is discussed, with attention to such materials and processes having a low cost, net shape fabrication potential as sintered alpha-SiC that has been fashioned by means of injection molding, slip casting, and isostatic pressing. The gas turbine elements produced include a gasifier turbine rotor, a turbine wheel, a connecting duct, a combustor baffle, and a transition duct.

Storm, R. S.↗

Dynamic and static fatigue behavior of sintered silicon nitrides

The dynamic and static fatigue behavior of Kyocera SN220M sintered silicon nitride at 1000 C was studied. Fractographic analysis of the material failing in dynamic fatigue revealed the presence of slow crack growth (SCG) at stressing rates below 41 MPa/min. Under conditions of static fatigue this material also displayed SCG at stresses below 345 MPa. SCG appears to be controlled by microcracking of the grain boundaries. The crack velocity exponent (n) determined from both dynamic and static fatigue tests ranged from 11 to 16.

Chang, J.↗

Progress in the development of lightweight nickel electrode for aerospace applications

The NASA Lewis Research Center is currently developing nickel electrodes for nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2) cells and batteries. These electrodes are lighter in weight and have higher specific energy than the heavy sintered state of the art nickel electrodes. In the present approach, lightweight materials or plaques are used as conductive supports for the nickel hydroxide active material. These plaques (fiber, felt, and nickel plated plastic) are fabricated into nickel electrodes by electrochemically impregnating them with active material. Initial performance tests include capacity measurements at five discharge levels, C/2, 1.0C, 1.37C, 2.0C, and 2.74C. The electrodes that pass the initial tests are life cycle tested at 40 and 80 percent depths of discharge (DOD). Different formulations of nickel fiber materials obtained from several manufacturers are currently being tested as possible candidates for nickel electrodes. Over 7,000 cycles of life cycle testing have been accumulated at 40 percent DOD, using the lightweight fiber electrode in a boiler plate Ni-H2 cell with stable voltage.

Britton, Doris L.↗

Thermal Dispersion Within a Porous Medium Near a Solid Wall

The regenerator is a key component to Stirling cycle machine efficiency. Typical regenerators are of sintered fine wires or layers of fine-wire screens. Such porous materials are contained within solid-waH casings. Thermal energy exchange between the regenerator and the casing is important to cycle performance for the matrix and casing would not have the same axial temperature profile in an actual machine. Exchange from one to the other may allow shunting of thermal energy, reducing cycle efficiency. In this paper, temperature profiles within the near-wall region of the matrix are measured and thermal energy transport, termed thermal dispersion, is inferred. The data show how the wall affects thermal transport. Transport normal to the mean flow direction is by conduction within the solid and fluid and by advective transport within the matrix. In the near-wall region, both may be interrupted from their normal in-core pattern. Solid conduction paths are broken and scales of advective transport are damped. An equation is presented which describes this change for a wire screen mesh. The near-wall layer typically acts as an insulating layer. This should be considered in design or analysis. Effective thermal conductivity within the core is uniform. In-core transverse thermal effective conductivity values are compared to direct and indirect measurements reported elsewhere and to 3D numerical simulation results, computed previously and reported elsewhere. The 3-D CFD model is composed of six cylinders in cross flow, staggered in arrangement to match the dimensions and porosity of the matrix used in the experiments. The commercial code FLUENT is used to obtain the flow and thermal fields. The thermal dispersion and effective thermal conductivities for the matrix are computed from the results.

Simon, T.↗

An Assessment of Nondestructive Evaluation Capability for Complex Additive Manufacturing Aerospace Components

The primary focus of this work is to investigate some of the fundamental relationships between processing, mechanical testing, materials characterization, and NDE for additively manufactured (AM) components using the powder bed fusion direct melt laser sintered process. The goal is to understand the criticality of defects unique to the AM process and then how conventional nondestructive evaluation methods as well as some of the more non-traditional methods such as computed tomography, are effected by the AM material. Specific defects including cracking, porosity and partially/unfused powder will be addressed. Besides line-of-site NDE, as appropriate these inspection capabilities will be put into the context of complex AM geometries where hidden features obscure, or inhibit traditional NDE methods.

Walker, James↗

High gas velocity burner tests on silicon carbide and silicon nitride at 1200 C

Specimens of silicon carbide and silicon nitride were exposed to a Mach one gas velocity burner simulating a turbine engine environment. Cyclic tests up to 100 hour duration were conducted at specimen temperatures of 1200 C. A specimen geometry was used that develops thermal stresses during thermal cycling in a manner similar to blades and vanes of a gas turbine engine. Materials were compared on a basis of weight change, dimensional reductions, metallography, fluorescent penetrant inspection, X-ray diffraction analyses, failure mode, and general appearance. One hot pressed SiC, one reaction sintered SiC, and three hot pressed Si3N4 specimens survived the program goal of 100 one-hour cycle exposures. Of the materials that failed to meet the program goal, thermal fatigue was identified as the exclusive failure mode.

Sanders, W. A.↗

Development of high Tc (greater than 110K) Bi, Tl and Y-based materials as superconducting circuit elements

Experimental work was continued on the development and characterization of bulk and hot pressed powders and tapecast materials in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Tl-Ba-Ca-Cu-O systems. A process for producing warp-free, sintered, superconducting tapes of Bi composition Bi1Sr2Ca2 Cu3O(x) was established. The procedure requires a triple calcination at 830 C for 24 hours and sintering at 845 C from 20 to 200 hours. Hot pressing the triple calcined powder at 845 C for 6 hours at 5000 psi yielded a dense material, which on further heat treatment at 845 C for 24 hours, exhibited a Tc of 108.2K. The Bi compositions were found to be much less oxygen sensitive than the Y compositions. This was especially noted in the case of the hot pressed materials which were superconducting as hot pressed, a condition that could not be achieved in the Y compositions. Safire-type grounding links are in the process of being fabricated from these materials.

Haertling, Gene↗

Composite wall concept for high temperature turbine shrouds: Survey of low modulus strain isolator materials

Plasma sprayed yttria stabilized zirconium oxide turbine seal specimens, incorporating various low modulus porous metal strain isolator pads between the zirconium oxide and a dense metal substrate, were subjected to cyclic thermal shock testing. Specimens that had a low modulus pad composed of sintered FeNiCrAlY fibermetal survived 1000 thermal shock cycles without spalling of the ceramic. A figure of merit for the low modulus pad materials taking into consideration the elastic modulus, thermal conductivity, strength, and oxidation resistance of the pad was proposed, and showed reasonable agreement with the thermal shock results. A potential surface distress problem on the zirconium oxide, associated with nonuniform temperature distribution and rapid stress relaxation was identified. One approach to solving the surface distress problem through application of laser surface fusion of the zirconium oxide layer showed some promise, but improvements in the laser surface fusion process are necessary to prevent process associated damage to the ceramic.

Bill, R. C.↗

Granular Materials and the Risks They Pose for Success on the Moon and Mars

Working with soil, sand, powders, ores, cement and sintered bricks, excavating, grading construction sites, driving off-road, transporting granules in chutes and pipes, sifting gravel, separating solids from gases, and using hoppers are so routine that it seems straightforward to do it on the Moon and Mars as we do it on Earth. This paper brings to the fore how little these processes are understood and the millennia-long trial-and-error practices that lead to today's massive over-design, high failure rate, and extensive incremental scaling up of industrial processes because of the inadequate predictive tools for design. We present a number of pragmatic scenarios where granular materials play a role, the risks involved, and what understanding is needed to greatly reduce the risks.

Wilkinson, R. Allen↗

Preliminary study of cyclic thermal shock resistance of plasma-sprayed zirconium oxide turbine outer air seal shrouds

Several experimental concepts representing potential high pressure turbine seal material systems were subjected to cyclic thermal shock exposures similar to those that might be encountered under severe engine start-up and shut-down sequences. All of the experimental concepts consisted of plasma-sprayed yttria stabilized ZrO2 on the high temperature side of the blade tip seal shroud. Between the ZrO2 and a cooled, dense metal backing, various intermediate layer concepts intended to mitigate thermal stresses were incorporated. Performance was judged on the basis of the number of thermal shock cycles required to cause loss of seal material through spallation. The most effective approach was to include a low modulus, sintered metal pad between the ZrO2 and the metallic backing. It was also found that reducing the density of the ZrO2 layer significantly improved the performance of specimens with plasma-sprayed metal/ceramic composite intermediate layers.

Bill, R. C.↗

Absorption of water and lubricating oils into porous nylon

Oil and water absorption from air into sintered porous nylon can be described by infiltration into the pores of the material. This process can be modeled by a diffusion-like mechanism. For water absorption, we find a formal diffusion coefficient of 1.5 x 10(exp -4)sq cm/min when the nylon is initially dry. The diffusion coefficient is 4 x 10(exp -6)sq cm/min when the nylon is oil-impregnated prior to air exposure. In a 52% RH atmosphere, dry nylon absorbs 3% w/w water, and oil-impregnated nylon absorbs 0.6% w/w water. For oil absorption there are three steps: (1) surface absorption and infiltration into (2) larger and (3) smaller pores. Surface absorption is too fast to be measured in these experiments. The diffusion coefficient for the second step is 6 x 10(exp -4)sq cm/min for SRG-60 oil into dry nylon and 4 x 10(exp -4)sq cm/min for air-equilibrated nylon. The diffusion coefficient for the third step is about 1 x 10(exp -6)sq cm/min for both cases. The total amount of oil absorbed is 31% w/w. The interaction between water and nylon is not as strong as that between water and cotton-phenolic: oil can replace water, and only a small amount of water can enter previously oil-impregnated nylon.

Bertrand, P. A.↗

Thermal Conductivity of Ceramic Thermal Barrier and Environmental Barrier Coating Materials

Thermal barrier and environmental barrier coatings (TBC's and EBC's) have been developed to protect metallic and Si-based ceramic components in gas turbine engines from high temperature attack. Zirconia-yttria based oxides and (Ba,Sr)Al2Si2O8(BSAS)/mullite based silicates have been used as the coating materials. In this study, thermal conductivity values of zirconia-yttria- and BSAS/mullite-based coating materials were determined at high temperatures using a steady-state laser heat flux technique. During the laser conductivity test, the specimen surface was heated by delivering uniformly distributed heat flux from a high power laser. One-dimensional steady-state heating was achieved by using thin disk specimen configuration (25.4 mm diam and 2 to 4 mm thickness) and the appropriate backside air-cooling. The temperature gradient across the specimen thickness was carefully measured by two surface and backside pyrometers. The thermal conductivity values were thus determined as a function of temperature based on the 1-D heat transfer equation. The radiation heat loss and laser absorption corrections of the materials were considered in the conductivity measurements. The effects of specimen porosity and sintering on measured conductivity values were also evaluated.

Zhu, Dong-Ming↗

Mode I, Mode II, and Mixed-Mode Fracture of Plasma-sprayed Thermal Barrier Coatings at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

The mixed-mode fracture behavior of plasma-sprayed ZrO2-8 wt% Y2O3 thermal barrier coatings was determined in air at 25 and 1316 C in asymmetric four-point flexure with single edge v-notched beam (SEVNB) test specimens. The mode I fracture toughness was found to be K(sub Ic) = 1.15 plus or minus 0.07 and 0.98 plus or minus 0.13 MPa the square root of m, respectively, at 25 and 1316 C. The respective mode II fracture toughness values were K(sub IIc) = 0.73 plus or minus 0.10 and 0.65 plus or minus 0.04 MPa the square root of m. Hence, there was an insignificant difference in either K(sub Ic or K(sub IIc) between 25 and 1316 C for the coating material, whereas there was a noticeable distinction between K(sub Ic) and K(sub IIc), resulting in K(sub IIc) per K(sub Ic) = 0.65 at both temperatures. The empirical mixed-mode fracture criterion best described the coatings' mixed-mode fracture behavior among the four mixed-mode fracture theories considered. The angle of crack propagation was in reasonable agreement with the minimum strain energy density criterion. The effect of the directionality of the coating material in on K(sub Ic) was observed to be insignificant, while its sintering effect at 1316 C on K(sub Ic) was significant.

Choi, Sung R.↗

Characterizing the Effects of Thermal Profile and Gas Environment on the Heat Treatment of JSC-1A Lunar Simulant Using Combined Thermogravimetry and Mass Spectroscopy

As NASA strives towards a long duration presence on the Moon, it has become increasingly important to learn how to better utilize resources from the lunar surface for everything from habitats, vehicle infrastructure, and chemical extraction. To that end, a variety of lunar simulants have been sourced from terrestrially available volcanic minerals and glass as Apollo regolith is a finite resource unavailable for experimentation needing large masses. However, while mineralogy and chemical composition can approach that of lunar material in these simulants, there are still distinct non-lunar phases such as hydrates, carbonates, sulfates, and clays that can cause simulants to behave distinctly non-lunar in a variety of processing conditions that would ideally be applied to lunar material. Notably, severe glassy bubbling has been documented in a variety of vacuum sintering experiments on JSC-1A lunar Maria simulant heated via microwaves. The origins of this outgassing have not been well understood, but are normally attributed to the decomposition of non-lunar contaminates intrinsic to virtually all terrestrially sourced simulants. As such, a series of controlled environmental tests were performed to ascertain the origins of the high temperature outgassing and to develop heat treatments that can drive JSC-1A closer to lunar composition and behavior. It was found that in JSC-1A that distinct gas evolutions of water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide occur in both inert gas and vacuum. Additionally, the presence of hydrogen during heat treatments was shown to dramatically change gas evolutions, leading to distinctly more lunar-like composition and behavior from JSC-1A simulant.

sinter↗

Characterizing the Effects of Thermal Profile and Gas Environment on the Heat Treatment of JSC-1A Lunar Simulant Using Combined Thermogravimetry and Mass Spectroscopy

As NASA strives towards a long duration presence on the Moon, it has become increasingly important to learn how to better utilize resources from the lunar surface for everything from habitats, vehicle infrastructure, and chemical extraction. To that end, a variety of lunar simulants have been sourced from terrestrially available volcanic minerals and glass as Apollo regolith is a finite resource unavailable for experimentation needing large masses. However, while mineralogy and chemical composition can approach that of lunar material in these simulants, there are still distinct non-lunar phases such as hydrates, carbonates, sulfates, and clays that can cause simulants to behave distinctly non-lunar in a variety of processing conditions that would ideally be applied to lunar material. Notably, severe glassy bubbling has been documented in a variety of vacuum sintering experiments on JSC-1A lunar Maria simulant heated via microwaves. The origins of this outgassing have not been well understood, but are normally attributed to the decomposition of non-lunar contaminates intrinsic to virtually all terrestrially sourced simulants. As such, a series of controlled environmental tests were performed to ascertain the origins of the high temperature outgassing and to develop heat treatments that can drive JSC-1A closer to lunar composition and behavior. It was found that in JSC-1A that distinct gas evolutions of water, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide occur in both inert gas and vacuum. Additionally, the presence of hydrogen during heat treatments was shown to dramatically change gas evolutions, leading to distinctly more lunar-like composition and behavior from JSC-1A simulant.

sinter↗

Ceramics in gas turbines - Powder and process characterization

The role of powder and process characterization in producing high quality silicon nitride and silicon carbide components, for gas turbine applications, is described. Some of the intrinsic properties of various forms of Si3N4 and SiC are listed and limitations of such materials' availability have been pointed out. The essential features/parameters to characterize a batch of powder have been discussed including the standard techniques for such characterization. In process characterization, parameters in sintering, reaction sintering, and hot pressing processes are discussed including the factors responsible for strength limitations in ceramic bodies. It is inevitable that significant improvements in material properties can be achieved by reducing or eliminating the strength limiting factors with consistent powder and process characterization along with process control.

Dutta, S.↗

Massively Expanded NEA Accessibility via Microwave-Sintered Aerobrakes

The availability of a wide range of natural resources among the near-Earth asteroid (NEA) population offers the opportunity to utilize these resources in the service of making access to most of the Solar System much easier than any classical approach which relies solely upon structural, heat-shield, life support and propellant materials lifted from Earth.We have concentrated our attention on the two main factors that influence the application and utility of in situ aerobrake manufacture on near-earth asteroids. The first of these is the use of microwave sintering in the fabrication of aerocapture heatshields for retrieval of asteroidal materials into Earth orbit; the second is assessment of the performance of these aerocapture devices, including making very large numbers of NEAs accessible as sources of essential materials to support space exploration and exploitation.

Lewis, John S.↗