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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 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Structure and grain coarsening during the sintering of alumina

The pore surface area (Sp) and grain-boundary area (Sgb) were measured during the sintering of undoped and doped (100 ppm MgO) alumina compacts. Since the presence of the additive affects only Sgb (raising it at a given value of the density), pinning of the boundaries by solid-solution drag is the only additive function evidenced by the results. The importance of such pinning even at densities as low as 75 percent of theoretical is linked to the existence of microstructural inhomogeneities.

Shaw, N. J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Structure and grain coarsening during the processing of engineering ceramics

Studies have been made of three ceramic systems (Al2O3, Y2O3/MgO, and SiC/C/B), both to explore a surface area/density diagram approach to examining the coarsening processes during sintering and to explore an alternative coarsening parameter, i.e., the grain boundary surface area (raising it at a given value of the density) and not the pore surface area; therefore, pinning of the grain boundaries by solid-solution drag is the only function evidenced by these results. The importance of such pinning even at densities as low as 75% of theoretical is linked to the existence of microstructural inhomogeneities. The early stages of sintering of Y2O3 powder have been examined using two techniques, BET surface area analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Each has given some insight into the process occurring and, used together, have provided some indication of the effect of MgO on coarsening during sintering. Attempts to further elucidate effects of MgO on the coarsening behavior of Y2O3 by the surface area/density diagram approach were unsuccessful due to masking effects of contaminating reactions during sintering and/or thermal etching. The behavior of the undoped SiC which only coarsens can be clearly distinguished by the surface area/density diagram from that of SiC/C/B which also concurrently densifies. Little additional information was obtainable by this method due to unfavorable sample etching characteristics. The advantages, disadvantages, and difficulties of application of these techniques to the study of coarsening during sintering are discussed.

Shaw, Nancy J.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Evaluations of Additively Manufactured Superalloy Lattice Blocks

Cast lattice block structures made up of high-temperature superalloys were previously shown to offer advantages in density, efficiency, and tailored properties. However, inconsistencies in casting die-fill, composition, and microstructure were identified as persistent issues with the casting process path. Three candidate lattice designs were screened through additive manufacturing of a superalloy. Laser powder bed fusion was applied with superalloy powder to produce lattice blocks for three-dimensional octahedral unit-cell designs of three heights. Properties of the structural designs versus additively manufactured lattices were compared, including structural dimensions, densities, defects, grain structures, crystallographic texture, and surface residual stresses. Findings indicate this concept could produce useful superalloy structures for high-temperature-capable static components requiring tailored density, and thermophysical and mechanical properties.

superalloy↗
NASA NTRS1999

Nondestructive Evaluation of the Friction Weld Process on 2195/2219 Grade Aluminum

In 1996, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center began an ambitious program designed to find alternative methods of repairing conventional TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welds and VPPA (Variable Polarity Plasma Arc) welds on the Space Shuttle External Tank without producing additional heat-related anomalies or conditions. Therefore, a relatively new method, invented by The Welding Institute (TWI) in Cambridge, England, called Friction Stir Welding (FSW), was investigated for use in this application, as well as being used potentially as an initial weld process. As with the conventional repair welding processes, nondestructive evaluation (NDE) plays a crucial role in the verification of these repairs. Since it was feared that conventional NDE might have trouble with this type of weld structure (due to shape of nugget, grain structure, etc.) it was imperative that a complete study be performed to address the adequacy of the NDE process. This paper summarizes that process.

Suits, Michael W.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Investigation of Celestial Solid Analogs

Our far infrared studies of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic aerogel grains have demonstrated that the mm and sub-mm wave absorption produced by the fundamental two level systems (TLS) mechanism represents a more significant contribution for these open grain structures than for bulk amorphous silicate grains. We found that the region with the anomalous temperature dependence of the spectral index due to the TLS excitations can extend in a fluffy material up to 80 per cm, which is well beyond its typical upper limit for bulk glasses. Currently there is no theoretical explanation for this surprising result. The effects of reduced dimensionality on the optical properties of carbonaceous grains have been studied with a systematic investigation of carbon aerogels. This spectroscopic approach has permitted a more reliable determination of the single grain mass normalized absorption coefficient based on the experimentally determined characteristics of the fluffy material rather than on first principles calculations involving the bulk properties of the substance. Our finding is that the electrical connectivity of the material is the main factor affecting its far infrared absorption coefficient. Another one of the main constituents of the interstellar dust, amorphous ice, has been investigated in the mm-wave region both in the high (HDA) and low (LDA) density amorphous phases and as a function of impurities. We found that doping either phase with ionic (LiCl) or molecular (methanol) impurities decreases the difference in the mm-wave absorption coefficient between the HDA and LDA ice phases so that the HDA spectrum can be used as an analog for impure ice absorption in the far infrared spectral region.

Sievers, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Plasma deposition and surface modification techniques for wear resistance

The ion-assisted or plasma coating technology is discussed as it applies to the deposition of hard, wear resistant refractory compound films. Of the many sputtering and ion plating modes and configurations the reactive magnetron sputtering and the reactive triode ion plating techniques are the preferred ones to deposit wear resistant coatings for tribological applications. Both of these techniques incorporate additional means to enhance the ionization efficiency and chemical reaction to precision tailor desirable tribological characteristics. Interrelationships between film formation, structure, and ribological properties are strictly controlled by the deposition parameters and the substrate condition. The enhanced ionization contributes to the excellent adherence and coherence, reduced internal stresses and improved structural growth to form dense, cohesive, equiaxed grain structure for improved wear resistance and control.

Spalvins, T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Does a threshold stress for creep exist in HfC-dispersed NiAl?

Recently it was proposed (Jha et al., 1989; Whittenberger et al., 1990) on the basis of constant velocity testing at 1300 K that dispersion strengthened NiAl composites containing about 4 wt pct HfC possess threshold stresses for creep. Further, 1300 K compression testing has been conducted on NiAl+4HfC, and diametrically opposite behavior has been found: for constant load creep tests a normal power law behavior was observed. However, additional constant velocity testing still indicates that the flow stress is essentially independent of strain rate below 10 exp -6/s. Examination of NiAl+4.3HfC specimens deformed under constant velocity conditions revealed that the original hot extruded small grain structure could be converted to large, elongated grains during testing. Such a transformation appears to be responsible for the apparent threshold stress behavior in HfC dispersed NiAl.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Creep and stress rupture of oxide dispersion strengthened mechanically alloyed Inconel alloy MA 754

The creep and stress rupture behavior of the mechanically alloyed oxide dispersion strengthened nickel-base alloy MA 754 was studied at 760, 982 and 1093 C. Tensile specimens with a fine, highly elongated grain structure, oriented parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal grain direction were tested at various stresses in air under constant load. It was found that the apparent stress dependence was large, with power law exponents ranging from 19 to 33 over the temperature range studied. The creep activation energy, after correction for the temperature dependence of the elastic modulus, was close to but slightly larger than the activation energy for self diffusion. Rupture was intergranular and the rupture ductility as measured by percentage elongation was generally low, with values ranging from 0.5 to 16 pct. The creep properties are rationalized by describing the creep rates in terms of an effective stress which is the applied stress minus a resisting stress consistent with the alloy microstructure. Values of the resisting stress obtained through a curve fitting procedure are found to be close to the values of the particle by-pass stress for this oxide dispersion strengthened alloy, as calculated from the measured oxide particle distribution.

Howson, T. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The influence of grain size and composition on slow plastic flow in FeAl between 1100 and 1400 K

The slow plastic flow properties of a series of binary B2 FeAl intermetallics at elevated temperatures, and ranging in aluminum content from 39.8 to 48.7 at. pct, were investigated using constant-velocity compression tests at strain rates from 2 x 10 to the -3rd to 2 x 10 to the -7th. Two deformation mechanisms with the same activation energy are found. For the mode with a stress component of 6, the strength increases with decreasing grain size, probably as a result of Hall-Petch behavior, while for the mode with stress component of 3, the strength increases with increasing grain size, probably due to the action of diffusional creep. Creep in the high stress exponent mode can be described in terms of the initial grain size because the large-angle grain structure is replaced by a small-angle grain microstructure of similar grain diameter during deformation.

Whittenberger, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Processing-structure characterization of rheocast IN-100 superalloy

The rheocasting solidification process was applied in the production of IN-100 nickel base superalloy, and the effects of processing variables, such as stirring speed, isothermal stirring time, and volume fraction solid during isothermal stirring, on the resultant rheocast structure were investigated. Ingots that were furnace cooled at the same rate but without stirring were compared with the rheocast ingots. Rheocasting yielded fine-grained structures, where the extent of microsegregation, the variation in macrostructure, and the solidification-induced porosity and ingot cracking were found to be reduced in comparison to the unstirred ingots. The grain size and nonuniformity were reduced by increasing the stirring speed, isothermal stirring time, or the volume fraction solid during stirring; decreased microsegregation was achieved by an increase in the volume fraction solid. The structures of grain boundaries lent support to the grain boundary mechanism proposed by Vogel et al. (1977) for rheocasting.

Cheng, Jung-Jen Allen↗
NASA NTRS1974

Metallurgical processing in space

Research in metallurgical processing to study the effects of reduced gravity started with Apollo 14 and advanced with Skylab. Experiments provided specimens for analysis which solidified while constrained and while freely floating, which contained a mixture of normally immiscible materials, demonstrated enhanced capillary flow, solubility and ordered growth of a directionally solidified eutectic. The smaller, equiaxed grain structure obtained in reduced gravity compared to the larger, elongated grains obtained in one gravity indicate a difference in convection due to gravity in constrained solidification. Freely floating nickel alloy specimens showing metallic gas evolution at low pressure and reduced gravity suggest reduced pressure reactions which cannot occur on earth even in high vacuum chambers due to the hydrostatic head in the molten metal. Directionally solidified eutectics showed fewer termination defects when grown in reduced gravity. These are a few of the differences observed due to reduced gravity which could have important consequences on the future of metallurgy. In this paper we attempt to correlate the results of several Skylab solidification experiments.

Mckannan, E. C.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Electronic and Interfacial Properties of PD/6H-SiC Schottky Diode Gas Sensors

Pd/SiC Schottky diodes detect hydrogen and hydrocarbons with high sensitivity. Variation of the diode temperature from 100 C to 200 C shows that the diode sensitivity to propylene is temperature dependent. Long-term heat treating at 425 C up to 140 hours is carried out to determine the effect of extended heat treating on the diode properties and gas sensitivity. The heat treating significantly affects the diode's capacitive characteristics, but the diode's current carrying characteristics are much more stable with a large response to hydrogen. Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray Spectrometry studies of the Pd surface after the heating show cluster formation and background regions with grain structure observed in both regions. The Pd and Si concentrations vary between grains. Auger Electron Spectroscopy depth profiles revealed that the heat treating promoted interdiffusion and reaction between the Pd and SiC dw broadened the interface region. This work shows that Pd/SiC Schottky diodes have significant potential as high temperature gas sensors, but stabilization of the structure is necessary to insure their repeatability in long-term, high temperature applications.

Chen, Liang-Yu↗
NASA NTRS1992

Energetics and structural properties of twist grain boundaries in Cu

Structural and energetics properties of atoms near a grain boundary are of great importance from theoretical and experimental standpoints. From various experimental work it is concluded that diffusion at low temperatures at polycrystalline materials take place near grain boundary. Experimental and theoretical results also indicate changes of up to 70 percent in physical properties near a grain boundary. The Embedded Atom Method (EAM) calculations on structural properties of Au twist grain boundaries are in quite good agreement with their experimental counterparts. The EAM is believed to predict reliable values for the single vacancy formation energy as well as migration energy. However, it is not clear whether the EAM functions which are fitted to the bulk properties of a perfect crystalline solid can produce reliable results on grain boundaries. One of the objectives of this work is to construct the EAM functions for Cu and use them in conjunction with the molecular static simulation to study structures and energetics of atoms near twist grain boundaries in Cu. This provides tests of the EAM functions near a grain boundary. In particular, we determine structure, single vacancy formation energy, migration energy, single vacancy activation energy, and interlayer spacing as a function of distance from grain boundary. Our results are compared with the available experimental and theoretical results from grain boundaries and bulk.

Karimi, Majid↗
NASA NTRS1972

Effect of metallurgical structure and properties on adhesion and friction behavior of cobalt alloys

The metallurgical structure and some of the mechanical properties of two cobalt alloys, cobalt-50% iron and cobalt-25% molybdenum-10% chromium, were determined under various heat treated conditions. The mechanical properties of the bcc disordered Co-50Fe alloy, which was found to be very brittle, indicated an exceedingly low fracture strength, low hardness, and very weak grain boundary strength. Ordering by suitable heat treatment only produced a more brittle material with a lower fracture strength and a slightly higher hardness value. Work hardening was found to produce a finer grain structure and a greater grain boundary strength. Tensile properties were examined. It was found that the Co-25Mo-10Cr alloy was difficult to place in the alpha Co solid solution condition, which limited the ability to use precipitation as a hardening reaction. Over two hundred adhesion cycles from zero contact load, to maximum load, to fracture were conducted between couples for each of the above alloys in an ultrahigh vacuum system which would permit the sample surfaces to be cleaned of all contaminant layers. In the Co-50Fe case, the calculated fracture stress from the adhesion tests showed values in the range of 80 to 150 k.s.i., which is about ten times greater than the values from tension tests.

Keller, D. V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Creep shear behavior of the oxide dispersion strengthened superalloy MA 6000E

The shear rupture life of the oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) superalloy MA 6000E was determined at 650 and 760 C was 250 MPa. Comparisons were made at 760 C with the conventional cast superalloy B-1900+Hf, the ODS alloy MA 754, and the directionally solidified eutectic alloy gamma/gamma prime-delta was 170 MPa, and for B-1900+Hf was 360 MPa. The ODS alloy MA 6000E and gamma/gamma prime-delta failed with very little indication of ductile accommodation. Both MA 754 and B-1900+Hf showed some ductile tearing. Fracture surfaces of the ODS alloy MA 754 showed discontinuities similar size, shape, and roughness to its grain structure, but the fracture surfaces of MA 6000E were much smoother than its grain boundaries.

Glasgow, T. K.↗