Results for “elastomer” — Page 31

NASA NTRS2002

Characterization of electrochemically deposited polypyrrole using magnetoelastic material transduction elements

Magnetoelastic alloy films have been used as a working electrode in an electrochemical cell. This material allows magnetic interrogation of electrochemical deposition. This technique was used to monitor the electrochemical deposition of polypyrrole by multisweep (CV) and potentiostatic methods. Since the determination of the mass-sensitive magnetoelastic film's resonance frequency is based on magnetic transduction, an inherent advantage of this method is that it requires no electrical connections other than the working lead of the potentiostat. Increases in pyrrole deposition correlated with a decrease in the peak resonance frequency of the magnetoelastic alloy. This technique provides a novel approach by which one can monitor electrochemical processes.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗

NASA NTRS2000

Electromechanically Active Polymer Blends for Actuation

Actuator mechanisms that are lightweight, durable, and efficient are needed to support telerobotic requirements for future NASA missions.

EAP↗

NASA NTRS2024

Evaluation of Cleaning Methods for Dust Mitigation of Lunar Docking and Hatch Seals

Low-leakage seals are an enabling technology for future lunar surface systems, and they must be kept clean to ensure that crews have sufficient breathable air for extended lunar surface missions. Previous testing on representative state-of-the-art seals showed that while seals can tolerate some level of lunar simulant dust contamination, dust can degrade seal performance to a point at which seal leak rates exceed maximum allowable values. The ability to clean simulant from seals had not been thoroughly studied, and the effectiveness and potential complications of using different cleaning methods for lunar seals were not well understood. To address this knowledge gap, researchers at the NASA Glenn Research Center executed a multiphase study to better understand and mitigate seal dust-exposure risks. The focus of this report is on the second phase of that study, in which tests were conducted to evaluate the viability of seal cleaning methods for use in the lunar environment. Multiple methods for cleaning seals contaminated with lunar simulant were assessed for cleaning effectiveness and viability for use in the lunar environment. Leak tests were performed on seals after they were cleaned to determine whether leak rates could be brought back to acceptable levels, and cleaned seals were examined to determine whether their surfaces had been damaged by the cleaning processes. This phase of the study also investigated changes in the seals’ adhesion forces as a result of contamination and cleaning.

Dust Mitigation↗