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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 613 records · Page 34

Binary phase digital reflection holograms - Fabrication and potential applications

A novel technique for the fabrication of binary-phase computer-generated reflection holograms is described. By use of integrated circuit technology, the holographic pattern is etched into a silicon wafer and then aluminum coated to make a reflection hologram. Because these holograms reflect virtually all the incident radiation, they may find application in machining with high-power lasers. A number of possible modifications of the hologram fabrication procedure are discussed.

Gallagher, N. C., Jr.↗

Redetermination of the Fe-rich portion of the Fe-Ni-Co phase diagram

The iron rich portion of the Fe-Ni-Co ternary diagram was determined at four temperatures. The phase boundaries and tie-lines of the (alpha + gamma) phase field were measured by analyzing the alpha and gamma phases with an electron microprobe. Grain boundary allotrimorphs of the alpha phase were observed in the polished and etched sections of samples which were step cooled from the gamma phase into the (alpha + gamma) region. Widmanstaetten-type microstructures composed of gamma-precipitates were observed in samples which were directly heated from room temperature into the (alpha + gamma) region.

Widge, S.↗

Microscopic tubes in igneous rocks

Microscopic tubes have been observed in several igneous rocks and may be quite common. They occur in single crystals and have either elliptical or circular cross-sections 1 to 5 microns in diameter and are ten to hundreds of microns long. Microtubes may be hollow or partially or completely filled with another phase, but are distinct from acicular crystals of accessory minerals such as rutile. Microtubes can form by at least three processes: (1) the partial annealing of microcracks, (2) the natural etching of dislocations, or (3) the primary inclusion of fluid material during crystal growth.

Richter, D.↗

Diffraction grating transmission efficiencies for XUV and soft X rays

The manufacture and properties of a grating intended for extrasolar X-ray studies are described. The manufacturing process uses a split laser beam exposing an interference pattern on the photoresist-coated glass plated with a nickel parting layer. The grating, supporting structure, and mounting frame are electrodeposited on the nickel parting layer, and the final product is lifted from the glass substrate by selective etching of the nickel. A model was derived which relates the number of counts received in a given order m as a function of photon wavenumber. A 4-deg beam line was used to measure the efficiencies of gold transmission gratings for diffraction of X-rays in the range of 45 to 275 eV. The experimental results are in good agreement with model calculations.

Schnopper, H. W.↗

Volatile compounds released during lunar lava fountaining

A modified radiochemical neutron activation analysis was used to determine 24 elements in three sieve separates and in HCl leach, HF etch, and residue fractions of the 500-62 micron separate of orange glass fines 74220. Six elements - In, Cd, Zn, Ga, Ge, and Au - were strongly concentrated in the leach, indicating that they were present as a surface deposit, probably a sublimate resulting from condensation of lava-fountain volatiles which expelled the orange glass onto the lunar surface.

Wasson, J. T.↗

Techniques for increasing boron fiber fracture strain

Improvement in the strain-to-failure of chemical-vapor-deposition boron fibers is shown possible by contracting the tungsten boride core region and its inherent flaws. Results of three methods are presented in which etching and thermal-processing techniques were employed to achieve core flaw contraction by internal stresses available in the boron sheath. After commercially and treatment-induced surface flaws were removed from 203-micron (8-mil) fibers, the core flaw was observed to be essentially the only source of fiber fracture. Thus, fiber strain-to-failure was found to improve by an amount equal to the treatment-induced contraction on the core flaw. To date, average fracture strains and stresses greater than 1.4% and 5.5 GN/sq m (800 ksi), respectively, have been achieved. Commercial feasibility considerations suggest as the most cost-effective technique that method in which as-produced fibers are given a rapid heat treatment above 700 C. Preliminary results concerning the contraction kinetics and fracture behavior observed with this technique are presented and discussed for both high-vacuum and argon-gas heat-treatment environments.

Dicarlo, J. A.↗

Effects of scaled heatshield tile misalignment on Orbiter boundary-layer transition

The article addresses the problem of assessing the sensitivity of the heat transfer rate of a Space Orbiter windward surface and boundary-layer transition data to surface features, or 'roughness elements', characteristic of randomly misaligned heat shield tiles. Selected heat shield tiles were precision-formed on the surface of a 0.0175-scale Orbiter model. Selective electroless plating and selective electrochemical etching techniques were employed. Effects of roughness on the location of boundary-layer transition were markedly influenced by the wall-to-total temperature ratios, according to wind-tunnel test results.

Goodrich, W. D.↗

Ultra-high-strength boron fibers

Boron-on-tungsten fibers with tensile strength and strain-to-failure values increased by fifty percent over commercial grades are produced by controlled chemical-etching process. Improved fibers have potential applications as lightweight composites in ground vehicles, spacecraft, and rotors for energy storage.

Behrendt, D. R.↗

Thin silicon-solar cell fabrication

Flexible silicon slices of uniform thicknesses are fabricated by etching in sodium hydroxide solution. Maintaining uniform thickness across slices during process(fabrication) is important for cell strength and resistance to damage in handling. Slices formed by procedure have reproducible surface with fine orange peel texture, and are far superior to slices prepared by other methods.

Lindmayer, J.↗

Ion-beam texturing of materials

Xenon ion-beam source is used to create microscopically-rough surface texture by sputter-etching surface while simultaneously sputter depositing lower yield material onto surface.

Hudson, W. R.↗

Optimization of solar cells for air mass zero operation and a study of solar cells at high temperatures, phase 3

The etch-back epitaxy process is described for producing thin, graded composition GaAlAs layers. The palladium-aluminum contact system is discussed along with its associated problems. Recent solar cell results under simulated air mass zero light and at elevated temperatures are reported and the growth of thin polycrystalline GaAs films on foreign substrates is developed.

Blakeslee, A. E.↗

Developments in vertical-junction silicon solar cells

Non-reflective vertical junction silicon cells provide high conversion efficiency radiation-resistant solar cells. New techniques of oxidation growth and the use of photolithography enable the use of an orientation dependent etch producing grooves 5 to 10 microns wide over 100 microns deep. These silicon wafers are then processed into solar cells with all of the processes performed at temperatures compatible with producing high efficiency solar cells. Most of the photogenerated carriers are created in the walls where they are within a few microns of the collecting junction. Consequently, degradation of carrier diffusion length due to radiation has a considerably reduced effect on collection efficiency. These 2 cm x 2 cm vertical junction silicon solar cells have exceeded 13% AMO efficiency and have shown superior radiation resistance.

Lindmayer, J.↗

Development of an improved high efficiency thin silicon solar cell

Efforts were concerned with optimizing techniques for thinning silicon slices in NaOH etches, initial investigations of surface texturing, variation of furnace treatments to improve cell efficiency, initial efforts on optimization of gridline and cell sizes and Pilot Line fabrication of quantities of 2 cm x 2 cm 50 micron thick cells.

Lindmayer, J.↗

Sputtering technology in solid film lubrication

Potential and present sputtering technology is discussed as it applies to the deposition of solid film lubricants particularly MoS2, WS2, and PTFE. Since the sputtered films are very thin, the selection of the sputtering parameters and substrate condition is very critical as reflected by the lubricating properties. It was shown with sputtered MoS2 films that the lubricating characteristics are directly affected by the selected sputtering parameters (power density, pressure, sputter etching, dc-biasing, etc.) and the substrate temperature, chemistry, topography and the environmental conditions during the friction tests. Electron microscopy and other surface sensitive analytical techniques illustrate the resulting changes in sputtered MoS2 film morphology and chemistry which directly influence the film adherence and frictional properties.

Spalvins, T.↗

Delayed fracture of silicon: Silicon sheet growth development for the large area silicon sheet task of the low cost silicon solar array project

Bar specimens were cut from ingots of single crystal silicon, and acid etched prior to testing. Artificial surface flaws were introduced in specimens by indentation with a Knoop hardness tester. The specimens were loaded in four-point bending to 95 percent of the nominal fracture stress, while keeping the surface area, containing the flaw, wet with test liquids. No evidence of delayed fracture, and, therefore stress corrosion, of single crystal silicon was observed for liquid environments including water, acetone, and aqueous solutions of NaCl, NH4OH, and HNO3, when tested with a flaw parallel to a (110) surface. The fracture toughness was calculated.

Chen, T. J.↗

Surface photovoltage in exciton absorption range in CdS

The high resolution, intrinsic spectra of surface photovoltage are reported for semiconducting n-type CdS single crystals. At reduced temperatures (120-160 K) the spectra exhibit three sharp maxima due to A, B and C free exciton transitions. Energy positions of these lines and valence band parameters (spin-orbit and crystal field splittings) estimated from surface photovoltage are in good agreement with values obtained by other methods. The excitonic transitions are very sensitive to surface treatment, i.e. polishing, etching, background illumination and surface doping. The mechanism of direct interaction of free excitons with surface states is proposed to explain exciton lines in surface photovoltage.

Morawski, A.↗

The use of analytical surface tools in the fundamental study of wear

This paper reviews the various techniques and surface tools available for the study of the atomic nature of the wear of materials. These include chemical etching, X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, Auger emission spectroscopy analysis, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, field ion microscopy, and the atom probe. Properties of the surface and wear surface regions which effect wear such as surface energy, crystal structure, crystallographic orientation, mode of dislocation behavior, and cohesive binding are discussed. A number of mechanisms involved in the generation of wear particles are identified with the aid of the aforementioned tools.

Buckley, D. H.↗

Influence of adsorbed fluids on the rolling contact deformation of MgO single crystals

Basic phenomena associated with rolling contact deformation were studied using MgO as a model bearing material. A hardened steel ball was rolled on MgO single crystals in slow-speed reciprocating motion and in high-speed circular motion. The resulting deformation was studied by dislocation etch-pit techniques. The presence of adsorbed fluids, such as silicone oil, white mineral oil, and toluene, with slow-speed sliding caused a dramatic change in slip mode and premature surface spalling compared with similar experiments in air or under water. In contrast, dimethyl formamide inhibited these slip processes. The results are consistent with the dependence of dislocation mobility on adsorbed species. High-speed hydrodynamic rolling with mineral oil lubrication produced a different slip phenomena entirely from the slow-speed rolling. The slip bands resembled those produced in tensile tests, and all slip apparently initiated at subsurface sites.

Dufrane, K. F.↗