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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Composites with nearly zero thermal expansion

Graphite, glass, and resin composite is very strong, stiff, and thermally stable. As mounting material for antennas, mirrors and lenses, composite minimizes structural distortion and misalignment. Rods of substance are made by pulling preimpregnated ribbon of glass and graphite through die. When materials are combined in proper proportion, graphite contracts, and glass and resin expand as temperature increases. Matrix for fiber may be polysulfane, epoxy, polyimide, or othe resin.

Dunn, T. J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Elucidating the local structure of Li 1+ x Al x Ti 2– x (PO 4 ) 3 and Li 3 Al x Ti 2– x (PO 4 ) 3 ( x = 0, 0.3) via total scattering

Li 1+x Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 (LATP) and Li 3 Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 (x = 0, 0.3) are promising candidates in all-solid-state batteries due to their high room temperature conductivity of 10 –3 S cm –1 and air- and moisture-stability. They also exhibit unusual thermal expansion properties, with Li 1+x Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 showing near-zero thermal expansion along the a axis while Li 3 Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 exhibits polynomial positive thermal expansion along the a axis and polynomial negative thermal expansion along the c axis. A crucial component to understanding these properties is understanding the local structure. Total scattering is a powerful analytical technique as it provides information on the long-range, average structure as well as the local structure. Here, we report the first X-ray and neutron total scattering experiments performed on Li 1+x Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 and Li 3 Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 (x = 0, 0.3). We show that the PO 4 and TiO 6 polyhedra experience very little expansion of the P/Ti–O bonds up to 800 °C, nor is there much expansion when the Li content increases significantly. The minor thermal expansion of the nearest-neighbor bonds of the polyhedra is revealed to be the reason behind the unusual thermal expansion properties, causing the near-zero thermal expansion along a in Li 1+x Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 and moving as whole units in Li 3 Al x Ti 2–x (PO 4 ) 3 . The structural robustness of the framework is also the reason for the increased conductivity as Li content increases, as the framework remains undistorted as Li content increases, permitting Li-ion mobility as the number of charge carriers increases. Finally, this suggests that phosphate-based framework materials beyond LATP would also be a good material space to explore for new Li-ion (and other ion-) conducting materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS2009

Precise Stabilization of the Optical Frequency of WGMRs

Crystalline whispering gallery mode resonators (CWGMRs) made of crystals with axial symmetry have ordinary and extraordinary families of optical modes. These modes have substantially different thermo-refractive constants. This results in a very sharp dependence of differential detuning of optical frequency on effective temperature. This frequency difference compared with clock gives an error signal for precise compensation of the random fluctuations of optical frequency. Certain crystals, like MgF2, have turnover points where the thermo-refractive effect is completely nullified. An advantage for applications using WGMRs for frequency stabilization is in the possibility of manufacturing resonators out of practically any optically transparent crystal. It is known that there are crystals with negative and zero thermal expansion at some specific temperatures. Doping changes properties of the crystals and it is possible to create an optically transparent crystal with zero thermal expansion at room temperature. With this innovation s stabilization technique, the resultant WGMR will have absolute frequency stability The expansion of the resonator s body can be completely compensated for by nonlinear elements. This results in compensation of linear thermal expansion (see figure). In three-mode, the MgF2 resonator, if tuned at the turnover thermal point, can compensate for all types of random thermal-related frequency drift. Simplified dual-mode method is also available. This creates miniature optical resonators with good short- and long-term stability for passive secondary frequency ethalon and an active resonator for active secondary frequency standard (a narrowband laser with long-term stability).

Savchenkov, Anatoliy↗
NASA NTRS1992

Nonlinear acoustics and the thermal expansivity of glass

The paper shows the intrinsic relationship between acoustical nonlinearity and the thermal expansivity of crystalline solids (a thermal measure of anharmonicity) from consideration of the 'static' radiation field generated by the vibrating lattice (atomic) sources of the crystal. A modification of the theory to account for long-range structural disorder in glass is proposed and applied to an explanation of the zero thermal expansivity at the cross-over temperature in silicate and titanium silicate glasses. Experimental evidence which validates the essential features of the theory is presented. An application of nonlinearity measurement, based on these results, to the processing of ULE glass, where the addition of titanium in various amounts is used to establish the temperature at which the zero thermal expansivity occurs, is suggested.

Cantrell, John H.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tailoring Negative Thermal Expansion via Tunable Induced Strain in La–Fe–Si-Based Multifunctional Material

Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) composites are typically designed by combining positive (PTE) with negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials acting as compensators and have many diverse applications, including in high-precision instrumentation and biomedical devices. La(Fe 1-x ,Si x )13-based compounds display several remarkable properties, such as giant magnetocaloric effect and very large NTE at room-temperature. Both are linked via strong magnetovolume coupling, which leads to sharp magnetic and volume changes occurring simultaneously across first-order phase transitions; the abrupt nature of these changes makes them unsuitable as thermal expansion compensators. To make these materials more useful practically, the mechanisms controlling the temperature over which this transition occurs and the magnitude of contraction need to be controlled. In this work, ball-milling was used to decrease particles and crystallite sizes and increase the strain in LaFe 11.9 Mn 0.27 Si 1.29 H x alloys. Such size and strain tuning effectively broadened the temperature over which this transition occurs. The material’s NTE operational temperature window was expanded, and its peak was suppressed by up to 85%. This work demonstrates that induced strain is the key mechanism controlling these materials’ phase transitions. This allows the optimization of their thermal expansion towards room-temperature ZTE-applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Transforming Thermal Expansion from Positive to Negative: The Case of Cubic Magnetic Compounds of (Zr,Nb)Fe 2

Negative thermal expansion (NTE) is an intriguing property for not only fundamental studies but also technological applications. However, few NTE materials are available compared with the huge amount of positive thermal expansion materials. The discovery of new NTE materials remains challenging. In this paper, we report a chemical modification strategy to transform thermal expansion from positive to negative in cubic magnetic compounds of (Zr,Nb)Fe 2 by tuning the magnetic exchange interaction. Furthermore, an isotropic zero thermal expansion can be established in Zr 0.8 Nb 0.2 Fe 2 (α 1 = 1.4 x 10 -6 K -1 , 3-470 K) over a broad temperature range that is even wider than that of the prototype Invar alloy of Fe 0.64 Ni 0.36 . The NTE of (Zr,Nb)Fe 2 is originated from the weakened magnetic exchange interaction and the increased d electrons of Fe by the Nb chemical substitution, so that the magnetovolume effect overwhelms the contribution of anharmonic lattice vibration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2020

Negative thermal expansion and the role of hybridization in perovskite-type PbTiO 3 -Bi(Cu 0.5 Ti 0.5) O 3

PbTiO 3 -BiMeO 3 ferroelectrics have attracted much attention due to not only their extremely large polarization and piezoelectricity but also their controllable thermal expansion. In this study, we present a new binary system of (1 - x)PbTiO 3 -xBi(Cu 0.5 Ti 0.5 )O 3 possessing large tetragonality and enhanced spontaneous polarization. Interestingly, a combination of near zero thermal expansion and negative thermal expansion over a temperature range of RT to T C (~550 °C) has been observed in tetragonal 0.85PbTiO 3 -0.15Bi(Cu 0.5 Ti 0.5 )O 3 . The comprehensive structure analysis addressed that the abnormal thermal expansion is coupled to the spontaneous volume ferroelectrostriction. Moreover, the chemical bonding investigation by a maximum entropy method further attests that the covalent hybridization of Pb/Bi–O bonds plays a vital role in the improved ferroelectricity and interacts with thermal vibration to dominate the crossover from positive to negative thermal expansion. fINALLY, The present studies would give direct evidence to verify the theoretical calculations and could be extended to reveal the nature of thermal expansion in ferroelectrics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1992

Sensitivity of the coefficients of thermal expansion of selected graphite reinforced composite laminates to lamina thermoelastic properties

An analytical study of the sensitivity of the laminate coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE, to changes in lamina elastic properties has been made. High modulus graphite/epoxy (P75/934, P100/934, P120/934), graphite/aluminum (P100/Al), and graphite/glass (HMS/Gl) composite materials were considered in quasi-isotropic, low thermal stress, and 'near-zero' thermal expansion laminate configurations. The effects of a positive or negative 10 percent change in lamina properties on laminate CTE is strongly dependent upon both the composite material and the laminate configuration. A 10 percent change in all of the lamina properties had very little effect on the laminate CTE of the HMS/Gl composite laminates investigated. The sensitivity and direction of change in the laminate CTE of Gr/934 depended very strongly on the fiber properties. A 10 percent change in the lamina transverse CTE resulted in changes as large as 0.216 ppm/C in the laminate CTE of a quasi-isotropic Gr/934 laminate. No significant difference was observed in the sensitivity of the laminate CTE of the P100/934 and P120/934 composite materials due to changes in lamina properties. Large changes in laminate CTE can result from measured temperature and radiation effects on lamina properties.

Tompkins, S. S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evidence of distinct nonpolar/polar ordering at long/short ranges in relaxor ferroelectrics

Distinct atomic nonpolar/polar ordering is determined at long, intermediate, and short ranges using synchrotron x-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and pair distribution function data in K 0.5 Na 0.5 NbO 3 -doped BaTiO 3 -based relaxor ferroelectrics, viz., (1 - x) Ba 0.9 Sr 0.1 TiO 3 -x KNN 50. Two different polar phases with distinct symmetries are identified at short/intermediate ranges for x = 0.10, where a monoclinic phase at short ranges gradually transforms into a rhombohedral phase at intermediate ranges. Here, in contrast, a nonpolar phase with average cubic symmetry is found to be stable at long ranges for a wide temperature range (100 ≤ T ≤ 500 K). The polar behavior of short/intermediate-range ordering is quantified in terms of the amplitude of ferroelectric phonon mode $Γ^-_4$ (q = 0, 0, 0) (which corresponds to the zone center of the cubic Brillouin zone). The amplitude of the $Γ^-_4$ phonon mode increases with decreasing temperature, suggesting the enhancement of ferroelectric polarization at short/intermediate ranges on lowering temperatures. Enhanced ferroelectric polarization at low temperature is also visible and evident by ferroelectrostriction and is quantified by the increase in magnitude of spontaneous volume ferroelectrostriction. Consequently, Zero thermal expansion is observed at low temperatures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Ultrawide Temperature Range Super-Invar Behavior of R 2 (Fe,Co) 17 Materials ( R = Rare Earth)

Super Invar (SIV), i.e., zero thermal expansion of metallic materials underpinned by magnetic ordering, is of great practical merit for a wide range of high precision engineering. However, the relatively narrow temperature window of SIV in most materials restricts its potential applications in many critical fields. Here, we demonstrate the controlled design of thermal expansion in a family of R 2 (Fe,Co) 17 materials (R=rare Earth). We find that adjusting the Fe-Co content tunes the thermal expansion behavior and its optimization leads to a record-wide SIV with good cyclic stability from 3–461 K, almost twice the range of currently known SIV. In situ neutron diffraction, Mössbauer spectra and first-principles calculations reveal the 3d bonding state transition of the Fe-sublattice favors extra lattice stress upon magnetic ordering. On the other hand, Co content induces a dramatic enhancement of the internal molecular field, which can be manipulated to achieve “ultrawide” SIV over broad temperature, composition and magnetic field windows. Furthermore, these findings pave the way for exploiting thermal-expansion-control engineering and related functional materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Structure and Anharmonicity of α- and β -Sb 2 O 3 at Low Temperature

Antimony oxides are important materials for catalysis and flame-retardant applications. The two most common phases, α-Sb 2 O 3 (senarmontite) and β-Sb 2 O 3 (valentinite), have been studied extensively. Specific focus has been placed recently on their lattice dynamics properties and how they relate to the α-β phase transformation and their potential anharmonicity. However, there has not been any direct investigation of anharmonicity in these systems, and a surprising lack of low-temperature structural information has prevented further study. Here, we report the powder neutron diffraction data of both phases of Sb 2 O 3 , as well as structural information. α-Sb 2 O 3 behaved as expected, but β-Sb 2 O 3 revealed a small region of zero thermal expansion along the c axis. Additionally, while the β phase matched well with reported atomic displacement parameters, the α phase displayed a marked deviation. This data will enable further investigations into these systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1973

Millimeter-wave antenna system

Parabolic reflectors fabricated from Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) composite material will not distort their shape by more than 3 percent of millimeter wavelength, despite large temperature differences on reflector surfaces. CFRP has zero thermal expansion. It is derived from charred polyacrylonitrite plastic filaments that are combined with epoxy resin.

Evans, J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Interfacial Effects on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Graphite/Copper Composites

Graphite surfaces are not wet by pure copper. This lack of wetting has been responsible for a debonding phenomenon that has been found in continuous graphite fiber reinforced copper matrix composites subjected to elevated temperatures. By suitably alloying copper, its ability to wet graphite surfaces can be enhanced. Information obtained during sessile drop testing has led to the development of a copper-chromium alloy that suitably wets graphite. Unidirectionally reinforced graphite/copper composites have been fabricated using a pressure infiltration casting procedure. P100 pitch-based fibers have been used to reinforce copper and copper-chromium alloys. X-ray radiography and optical microscopy have been used to assess the fiber distribution in the cast composites. Scanning electron microscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy analyses were conducted to study the distribution and continuity of the chromium carbide reaction phase that forms at the fiber/matrix interface in the alloyed matrix composites. The effects of the chromium in the copper matrix on the mechanical and thermal properties of P100Gr/Cu composites have been evaluated through tensile testing, three-point bend testing, thermal cycling and thermal conductivity calculations. The addition of chromium has resulted in an increased shear modulus and essentially zero thermal expansion in the P100Gr/Cu-xCr composites through enhanced fiber/matrix bonding. The composites have longitudinal tensile strengths in excess of 700 MPa with elastic moduli of 393 GPa. After 100 hr at 760 deg C 84 percent of the as-cast strength is retained in the alloyed matrix composites. The elastic moduli are unchanged by the thermal exposure. It has been found that problems with spreading of the fiber tows strongly affect the long transverse tensile properties and the short transverse thermal conductivity of the P100Gr/Cu-xCr composites. The long transverse tensile strength is limited by rows of touching fibers which are paths of easy crack propagation under low tensile loads. The short transverse thermal conductivity is dictated by the fiber/matrix interface. Conduction across this interface has been estimated to be two orders of magnitude lower than that across the composite. This is due to the mechanical, and not chemical, nature of Gr/Cu bond.

Devincent, Sandra Marie↗
NASA NTRS1992

Thermally induced changes in the focal distance of composite mirrors - Composites with a zero coefficient of thermal expansion of the radius of curvature

Calculations are presented of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the radius of curvature of the reflector face sheets made of a quasi-isotropic composite. It is shown that, upon cooling, the change of the CTE of the focal distance of the mirror is equal to that of the radius of the curvature of the reflector face sheet. The CTE of the radius of the curvature of a quasi-isotropic composite face sheet depends on both the in-plane and the out-of-plane CTEs. The zero in-plane CTE of a face sheet does not guarantee mirrors with no focal length changes.

Dolgin, Benjamin P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Requirements and design of the graphite/epoxy structural elements for the optical telescope assembly of the space telescope

The production of the Space Telescope's Metering Truss Structure (MTS) and Focal Plane Structure (FPS), which are of graphite/epoxy, is described. Graphite/epoxy laminates were chosen because of their high strength and stiffness, low weight, and a controlled coefficient of thermal expansion approaching zero. Photocopy masters, which are dimensionally accurate and stable photographic reproductions of full size engineering drawings, allowed the exact assembly of bonded or bolted parts by assembly mechanics, cutting costs and speeding production. While moisture absorption, high through-the-thickness coefficient of thermal expansion effects, and labor-intensive layup costs are potentially problematic in some cases, it is expected that solutions can be found through analytical and developmental programs.

Golden, C. T.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Thermodynamic origin of the pressure-induced Invar effect: General criterion and experimental study of Fe 68 ⁢Pd 32

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on 57 Fe 68 Pd 32 at multiple pressures and two temperatures in a diamond-anvil cell. Between 4 and 11GPa, the thermal expansion was zero or slightly negative. This pressure-induced Invar effect was studied further with 57 Fe nuclear forward scattering and nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering to obtain information on the pressure-induced changes in both the magnetization and the phonon density of states. Magnetic entropy and phonon entropy were obtained from these results, the latter with additional measurements from inelastic neutron scattering to account for the contributions from Pd atoms. The dependencies of these entropies on pressure gave the magnetic and phonon contributions to thermal expansion. These canceled in the region of pressure-induced Invar behavior, even though they individually increased by more than a factor of 2 below the Curie pressure. The behavior of phonons gives evidence for spin-phonon interactions in Fe 68 Pd 32 . A general explanation of the pressure-induced Invar effect is presented, showing that Invar behavior is typically expected at a pressure P* below a magnetic transition at pressure PC. The difference in pressure P C − P* scales with the fractional reduction in magnetic exchange interaction divided by the average Gr¨uneisen parameter.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗