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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 307 records · Page 17

Recovery of damage in rad-hard MOS devices during and after irradiation by electrons, protons, alphas, and gamma rays

This paper reports on the recovery properties of rad-hard MOS devices during and after irradiation by electrons, protons, alphas, and gamma rays. The results indicated that complex recovery properties controlled the damage sensitivities of the tested parts. The results also indicated that damage sensitivities depended on dose rate, total dose, supply bias, gate bias, transistor type, radiation source, and particle energy. The complex nature of these dependencies make interpretation of LSI device performance in space (exposure to entire electron and proton spectra) difficult, if not impossible, without respective ground tests and analyses. Complete recovery of n-channel shifts was observed, in some cases within hours after irradiation, with equilibrium values of threshold voltages greater than their pre-irradiation values. This effect depended on total dose, radiation source, and gate bias during exposure. In contrast, the p-channel shifts recovered only 20 percent within 30 days after irradiation.

Brucker, G. J.↗

Thermal Contributions to the Degradation of Ground Laboratory and Space Irradiated Teflon

The aluminized Teflon fluorinated ethylene propylene outer most layer of the multilayer insulation blankets on the Hubble Space Telescope has become embrittled resulting in severe on-orbit cracking. During the second servicing mission, a piece of aluminized fluorinated ethylene propylene was retrieved that had curled, exposing the back-surface aluminum to space. This extremely embrittled piece reached 200 C on-orbit, 150 C higher than the nominal temperature extreme. Therefore, experiments have been conducted to determine the effect of heating on the degradation of fluorinated ethylene propylene that has been irradiated in a ground laboratory facility or in space on Hubble Space Telescope. Samples of pristine, x-ray irradiated and Hubble Space Telescope retrieved fluorinated ethylene propylene were heat treated from 50 to 200 C at 25 C intervals in a high vacuum facility and tensile tested. Density measurements were also obtained. Results indicate that heating does not embrittle non-irradiated Teflon. However, there is a significant dependence of the embrittlement of irradiated Teflon on heating temperature, with near complete loss of elongation at 100 C and higher. Rate of degradation changes, which were consistent with the glass transition temperature for fluorinated ethylene propylene, were present in the data. The results support chain scission as the primary mechanism of degradation of fluorinated ethylene propylene on Hubble Space Telescope, and indicate the significance of the on-orbit temperature of fluorinated ethylene propylene with respect to its degradation in the space environment.

deGroh, Kim K.↗

Development of a Space Irradiance Simulator for Advanced Studies and Materials Research

A lab-scale experimental apparatus that mimics the solar-thermal environment of space has recently been developed and tested at NASA Kennedy Space Center in support of novel materials research for future space science and exploration applications. The Space Irradiance Simulator (SIRS) apparatus exposes specimens up to roughly 61 mm in diameter to a similar thermal environment that exists at distances as close as 0.4 AU from the Sun. This includes a high vacuum environment, access to a deep cryogenic background temperature with optical properties that closely imitate a blackbody, and irradiance from a broadband solar “point” source at fluxes as high as 9300 W/m2. Cooling is provided by a Gifford-McMahon cryocooler capable of 25 W of cooling power at 20 K, with a base temperature of 14 K. A commercially available Xeon lamp acts as the solar source, creating broadband electromagnetic radiation with a spectrum similar to that of the Sun. Light is beamed through the vacuum chamber and onto a sample suspended within the cold-mass via a flexible quartz fiber bundle in conjunction with a custom vacuum feedthrough. The system design, fabrication, and operation are discussed; and results from the initial checkout testing of the system are presented.

A. M. Swanger↗

Summary of Proton Test on the Actel RH1020 at Indiana University

Proton tests were performed on the Actel RH1020 at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility. The devices were active during the irradiation. Upsets and currents were monitored in real time with the devices being clocked at 1 MHz. The results of the tests are summarized.

Katz, Richard↗

Consolidation and fabrication techniques for vanadium-20 w/o titanium /TV-20/

Tests of the mechanical properties, fuel compatibility, sodium corrosion and irradiation behavior were made for vanadium and vanadium alloy. Improved methods for consolidation and fabrication of bar, rod, sheet, and high-quality, small diameter, thin-wall tubing of vanadium-20 without titanium are reported.

Burt, W. R.↗

IUS materials outgassing condensation effects on sensitive spacecraft surfaces

Four materials used on the inertial upper state (IUS) were subjected to vacuum conditions and heated to near-operational temperatures (93 to 316 C), releasing volatile materials. A fraction of the volatile materials were collected on 25 C solar cells, optical solar reflectors (OSR's) or aluminized Mylar. The contaminated surfaces were exposed to 26 equivalent sun hours of simulated solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Measurements of contamination deposit mass, structure, reflectance and effects on solar cell power output were made before and after UV irradiation. Standard total mass loss - volatile condensible materials (TML - VCM) tests were also performed. A 2500 A thick contaminant layer produced by EPDM rubber motor-case insulation outgassing increased the solar absorptance of the OSR's from 0.07 to 0.14, and to 0.18 after UV exposure. An 83,000 A layer caused an increase from 0.07 to 0.21, and then the 0.46 after UV exposure. The Kevlar-epoxy motor-case material outgassing condensation raised the absorptance from 0.07 to 0.13, but UV had no effect. Outgassing from multilayer insulation and carbon-carbon nozzle materials did not affect the solar absorptance of the OSR's.

Mullen, C. R.↗

Luneburg lens and optical matrix algebra research

Planar, as opposed to channelized, integrated optical circuits (IOCs) were stressed as the basis for computational devices. Both fully-parallel and systolic architectures are considered and the tradeoffs between the two device types are discussed. The Kalman filter approach is a most important computational method for many NASA problems. This approach to deriving a best-fit estimate for the state vector describing a large system leads to matrix sizes which are beyond the predicted capacities of planar IOCs. This problem is overcome by matrix partitioning, and several architectures for accomplishing this are described. The Luneburg lens work has involved development of lens design techniques, design of mask arrangements for producing lenses of desired shape, investigation of optical and chemical properties of arsenic trisulfide films, deposition of lenses both by thermal evaporation and by RF sputtering, optical testing of these lenses, modification of lens properties through ultraviolet irradiation, and comparison of measured lens properties with those expected from ray trace analyses.

Wood, V. E.↗

Testing Conductive Films For Continuity

Apparatus tests thin conductive films for continuity without touching them. Specimen irradiated with 10-keV electrons; then noncontacting electrostatic probe scans specimen and measures charge on spot directly under it. Avoids damage to film and error from contact resistance resulting from touching film with conventional probe. Developed to determine integrity of conductive coats applied to surfaces of dielectric materials to inhibit accumulation of electrostatic charges.

Leung, Philip L.↗

Environmental test program for superconducting materials and devices

This report is divided into two parts. The first dealing with work involved with Clemson University and the second with the results from Westinghouse/Savannah River. Both areas of work involved low noise, low thermal conductivity superconducting grounding links used in the NASA-sponsored Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere using Far Infrared Emission (SAFIRE) Project. Clemson prepared the links from YBa2Cu3O(7-x) superconductor tape that was mounted on a printed circuit board and encapsulated with epoxy resin. The Clemson program includes temperature vs. resistance, liquid nitrogen immersion, water immersion, thermal cycling, humidity, and radiation testing. The evaluation of the links under a long term environmental test program is described. The Savannah River program includes gamma irradiation, vibration, and long-term evaluation. The progress made in these evaluations is discussed.

Haertling, Gene↗

Proton irradiation on materials

A computer code is developed by utilizing a radiation transport code developed at NASA Langley Research Center to study the proton radiation effects on materials which have potential application in NASA's future space missions. The code covers the proton energy from 0.01 Mev to 100 Gev and is sufficient for energetic protons encountered in both low earth and geosynchronous orbits. With some modification, the code can be extended for particles heavier than proton as the radiation source. The code is capable of calculating the range, stopping power, exit energy, energy deposition coefficients, dose, and cumulative dose along the path of the proton in a target material. The target material can be any combination of the elements with atomic number ranging from 1 to 92, or any compound with known chemical composition. The generated cross section for a material is stored and is reused in future to save computer time. This information can be utilized to calculate the proton dose a material would receive in an orbit when the radiation environment is known. It can also be used to determine, in the laboratory, the parameters such as beam current of proton and irradiation time to attain the desired dosage for accelerated ground testing of any material. It is hoped that the present work be extended to include polymeric and composite materials which are prime candidates for use as coating, electronic components, and structure building. It is also desirable to determine, for ground testing these materials, the laboratory parameters in order to simulate the dose they would receive in space environments. A sample print-out for water subject to 1.5 Mev proton is included as a reference.

Chang, C. Ken↗

Quantitative rainbow schlieren deflectometry

In the rainbow schlieren apparatus, a continuously graded rainbow filter is placed in the back focal plane of the decollimating lens. Refractive-index gradients in the test section thus appear as gradations in hue rather than irradiance. A simple system is described wherein a conventional color CCD array and video digitizer are used to quantify accurately the color attributes of the resulting image, and hence the associated ray deflections. The present system provides a sensitivity comparable with that of conventional interferometry, while being simpler to implement and less sensitive to mechanical misalignment.

Greenberg, Paul S.↗

MT29F512G08AUCBBH8-6IT:B NAND Flash Memory Total Ionizing Dose Test Report

The purpose of this test was to characterize the Micron 512 GB NAND (MT29F512G08AUCBBH8-6IT:B) flash memory parameter degradation for total dose response. In the test, the device was exposed to high dose rate (HDR) irradiations using gamma radiation. Device parameters such as leakage currents, quantity of upset bits and overall chip and die health were investigated.

TID↗

Determination of contamination character of materials in space technology testing

The contamination characters of selected materials used in space technology testing. Specific materials were subjected to a thermal vacuum environment, and the outgases were collected on a cold test mirror surface. Approximately one-half of the surface of the mirror was subjected to ultraviolet irradiation while the outgases were being deposited on the mirror. The purpose of these experiments was to determine the effect of ultraviolet irradiation on the contaminative character of outgases from selected materials. The degree of contamination was measured in terms of degradation of the optical properties of the test mirror and the amount of deposit per unit area on quartz crystal microbalances placed near the test mirror, and by means of quadrupole mass spectral measurements of outgases from the test samples.

Haynes, D. L.↗

PAssive Thermal Coating Observatory Operating in Low Earth Orbit (PATCOOL)

The PATCOOL is a NASA sponsored, University of Florida developed 3U CubeSat meant to investigate the feasibility of using a cryogenic selective surface coating as a new, more efficient way of passively cooling components in space. Initial tests on the ground demonstrate that this coating should provide a much higher reflectance of the Sun's irradiant power than any existing coating, while still providing far-infrared power emission. The ultimate validation of this technology requires on-orbit testing. PATCOOL hosts a 4-sample housing, with the samples shaped as thin cylinders (coin-like). Two samples are coated with state-of-the-art material, while the other pair uses the new coating to be evaluated. The temperatures of all samples during the mission (minimum 72 hours of data collection) are measured via thermistors. The samples are connected via thin Kevlar strings to the housing, to minimize heat transfer. The housing is designed to shield the samples from Earth's thermal radiation, and the CubeSat is attitude stabilized and controlled via a gravity gradient boom, magnetorquers and a reaction wheel set. Thermal Desktop simulations show PATCOOL's ability to thermally isolate the samples from heat exchanges other than with Sun and deep space, thanks to its thermal design and the chosen attitude profile

Ojeda, Carlos↗

Tensile and fatigue data for irradiated and unirradiated AISI 310 stainless steel and titanium - 5 percent aluminum - 2.5 percent tin: Application of the method of universal slopes

Irradiated and unirradiated tensile and fatigue specimens of AISI 310 stainless steel and Ti-5Al-2.5Sn were tested in the range of 100 to 10,000 cycles to failure to determine the applicability of the method of universal slopes to irradiated materials. Tensile data for both materials showed a decrease in ductility and increase in ultimate tensile strength due to irradiation. Irradiation caused a maximum change in fatigue life of only 15 to 20 percent for both materials. The method of universal slopes predicted all the fatigue data for the 310 SS (irradiated as well as unirradiated) within a life factor of 2. For the titanium alloy, 95 percent of the data was predicted within a life factor of 3.

Debogdan, C. E.↗

Fabrication and Testing of Habitat Components Using In-Situ Materials for Martian Exploration

The development of Mars for human activity will require the utilization of Martian materials in building habitats and working structures. One approach is to use polymer binders with regolith to form structural elements. Not only can useful composite materials be produced in this way but the radiation protection properties are also increased. This is important since only modest protection from space radiation is provided by the Martian atmosphere. We have studied composites fabricated using Martian regolith simulant and polymers which can be synthesized from local Martian materials for their potential use as radiation shields for manned Mars missions. To validate shielding effectiveness, composites are irradiated with a 55 MeV proton beam and neutron beams up to 800 MeV. Shielding effects on microelectronic devices are measured by placing them behind samples of the composites during irradiation. To measure structural properties of the composites, preliminary characterization and mechanical testing are made for the composites.

Kim, M.-H. Y.↗

Arc Testing of a Mockup Cable in a Simulated Space Radiation Environment

A mockup cable was irradiated with electrons of 25-100 keV energy in a vacuum chamber. The m'ockup cable consisted of insulated wires on a kapton substrate, overlaid with a metallized teonex shield. Voltages induced on the wires and shield by the electron beam during irradiation were monitored, and voltage changes were used, along with video, to detect arcs due to the charge built-up in the cable. The cable was also cooled with liquid nitrogen to very low temperatures, to simulate cables kept in the dark for long periods of time. Arcing was common at fluences typical of long space missions. Occasionally an arc would occur some time after the electron beam was turned off. The conductivity of the wires and shield was monitored as a function of temperature, and behaved as expected, with lower conductivities at lower temperatures. Arcs from the wires and shield to ground and from the wires to the shield were measured. Sympathetic arcs were also seen, wherein an arc from the shield to ground or from the wires to ground was followed in a short period of time by another arc of a different type. Implications of these results for real cables on long space missions will be discussed, and recommendations given for arc mitigation.

Ferguson, D. C.↗