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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 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1992

Flow transitions in a 2D directional solidification model

Flow transitions in a Two Dimensional (2D) model of crystal growth were examined using the Bridgman-Stockbarger me thod. Using a pseudo-spectral Chebyshev collocation method, the governing equations yield solutions which exhibit a symmetry breaking flow tansition and oscillatory behavior indicative of a Hopf bifurcation at higher values of Ra. The results are discussed from fluid dynamic viewpoint, and broader implications for process models are also addressed.

Larroude, Philippe↗
NASA NTRS1993

Diffusion in liquid state and solidification of binary system (M-7)

Diffusion is one of the most fundamental physical phenomena. It relates to the manufacturing of almost all materials. Therefore, the precise knowledge of diffusivities of relevant materials is necessary for the optimization of these processes. On the other hand, such knowledge is indispensable to understanding the diffusion mechanism and structure of liquid metal in the field of physical metallurgy. Many diffusion experiments on solid metal were undertaken and a lot of data were accumulated. But on liquid metals there are few measurements because of experimental difficulties, such as thermal convection, induced by very slight temperature gradients in the specimen. Under microgravity conditions, the movement of liquid metal due to density differences and thermal convection must be suppressed markedly. Therefore, the transportation process will be controlled only by the diffusion of constituent atoms. These conditions offer the optimum environments for the diffusion experiment. The experiments are briefly described. Diffusion couples are prepared by attaching end to end two rods of different pure metals using hot press equipment. These couples are inserted into a graphite crucible and then doubly enclosed by two silica ampoules, respectively. The specimen is inserted into a tantalum cartridge, which is welded in a vacuum using an electron-beam apparatus. These cartridges are charged in the continuous heating furnace in space and held at a given temperature for a predetermined time and then solidified. The concentration distribution of elements in these specimens will be measured along the rod axis by means of an electron probe microanalyzer. The counterdiffusivity of the liquid metal binary system is determined on the basis of the compensated concentration distribution profile for thermal contraction.

Dan, T.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Crystal growth of selected II-VI semiconducting alloys by directional solidification

A Hg(0.84)Zn(0.16)Te alloy crystal was back-melted and partially resolidified during the first United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-1) mission in the Marshall Space Flight Center's Crystal Growth Furnace. The experiment was inadvertently terminated at about 30% of planned completion. Nonetheless, it was successfully demonstrated that HgZnTe alloy ingots partially grown and quenched on the ground can be back-melted and regrown in space under nearly steady state growth conditions. An identical 'ground-truth' experiment was performed following the mission. Preliminary results are presented for both crystals, as well as for a series of other crystals grown prior to the mission for the purposes of optimizing in-flight growth conditions.

Lehoczky, Sandor L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

X-ray microscope for solidification studies

This report covers the second 6 month period for the year March 1, 1994 to February 28, 1995. The material outlined in this semi-annual report continues from the previous semi-annual report. The Fein Focus Inc. x-ray source was delivered in September and coincides with the beginning of the second 6 month effort. As a result, and as outlined in the statement of work, this period was dedicated to the evaluation, testing and calibration of the x-ray source. In addition, in this period the modeling effort was continued and extended by the Tiger series of Monte-Carlo simulation programs for photon and electron interactions with materials obtained from the Oak Ridge RISC Library. Some further calculations were also made with the absorption model.

Kaukler, William↗
NASA NTRS1992

Study of natural convection and interface shape in directional solidification of succinonitrile

Flow visualization experiments in a Bridgman furnace at zero growth velocity have been performed. The experiments were intended to investigate if the photochromic dye activation method could be used in a crystal growth study. The results from this work have confirmed that with a carefully designed experimental setup, the photochromic-dye method permits qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the flow field near the interface in crystal growth experiments. For the horizontal orientation of a 6 mm x 6 mm ampoule and an axial temperature gradient of 26.5 C/cm, velocity profiles have been obtained accurately at various positions near the interface. The maximum velocity of 1.29 mm/sec was measured in the central vertical plane and the flow was symmetrical about that plane. A flow inversion point was also noted, above which the flow was towards the interface and below it, away from the interface. The results obtained are useful for validating 3-dimensional numerical models and establishing a link between the macroscopic processing conditions and the formation of crystalline defects.

Kawaji, M.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Crystal Growth and Fluid Mechanics Problems in Directional Solidification

An investigation of a more complete theoretical understanding of convection effects in a vertical Bridgman apparatus is described. The aim is to develop a clear understanding of scalings of various features of dendritic crystal growth in the case that both the surface energy and undercooling are small.

Tanveer, S.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Evaluation of Temperature Gradient in Advanced Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (AADSF) by Numerical Simulation

A numerical model of heat transfer using combined conduction, radiation and convection in AADSF was used to evaluate temperature gradients in the vicinity of the crystal/melt interface for variety of hot and cold zone set point temperatures specifically for the growth of mercury cadmium telluride (MCT). Reverse usage of hot and cold zones was simulated to aid the choice of proper orientation of crystal/melt interface regarding residual acceleration vector without actual change of furnace location on board the orbiter. It appears that an additional booster heater will be extremely helpful to ensure desired temperature gradient when hot and cold zones are reversed. Further efforts are required to investigate advantages/disadvantages of symmetrical furnace design (i.e. with similar length of hot and cold zones).

Bune, Andris V.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Convection during Thermally Unstable Solidification of Pb-Sn in a Magnetic Field

Convection and macrosegregation in directionally solidified hypoeutectic Pb-38 wt pct Sn and hypereutectic Pb-64.5 wt pct Sn have been examined during upward and downward growth. Temperature fluctuations are observed along the length of the melt column during downward growth. With increasing Rayleigh number, these fluctuations change from none, to cyclic, to time periodic having multiple harmonics, and finally to random. At the higher convective driving force of 350 K temperature inversion, the transverse magnetic field decreased convective levels, strong random temperature fluctuations (flows) becoming smaller and periodic. The maximum field of 0.45 T was unable to completely eliminate convection. For the lower convective driving force of 150 K temperature inversion, the 0.05 T magnetic field decreased flows, and at 0.15 T, the field caused a dramatic decrease in the characteristic frequency of the temperature fluctuations, indicating a change in the nature of the flow, the waveform of the temperature fluctuations changing from sinusoidal to a pulsed wave. Temperature fluctuations and time delays between thermocouples were used to estimate flow velocities. Irrespective of the convection in the bulk melt (ahead of the mushy zone), longitudinal macrosegregation occurs only if the interdendritic melt mixes with the bulk melt.

Song, H.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Convective Influence on Radial Segregation During Unidirectional Solidification of the Binary Alloy HgCdTe

In order to simulate the space environment for basic research into the crystal growth mechanism, Hg(0.8)Cd(0.2)Te crystals were grown by the vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger method in the presence of an applied axial magnetic field. The influence of convection, by magneto hydrodynamic damping, on mass transfer in the melt and segregation at the solid-liquid interface was investigated by measuring the axial and radial compositional variations in the grown samples. The reduction of convective mixing in the melt through the application of the magnetic field is found to have a large effect on radial segregation and interface morphology in the grown crystals. Direct comparisons are made with a Hg(0.8)Cd(0.2)Te crystal grown without field and also in the microgravity environment of space during the second United States Microgravity Payload Mission (USMP-2).

Watring, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Influence of a Rotating Magnetic Field on Solidification from a Traveling Solvent Zone

Application of a high frequency rotating magnetic field (50-400Hz) (RMF) with a strength of the order of 1 mT can be used to influence the fluid flow in an electrically conductive melt. The advantage of the RMF during the traveling solvent zone method for growth of semiconductor materials will be discussed. Preliminary modeling results for cadmium telluride growth from a tellurium solvent zone will be discussed.

Gillies, Donald C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

The Transient Dendritic Solidification Experiment (TDSE)

The study of steady-state dendritic growth has both validated many element of transport phenomena in dendritic growth, and yielded many new insights. Further development in simulation and modeling are needed, as is further understanding of the role of selection or scaling in dendritic growth. The TDSE contributes to the further study of dendritic phenomena by carefully measuring and modeling transient effects on dendritic growth. The major challenge encountered in measuring and analyzing the transient behavior of isothermal dendrites is defining precisely the initial conditions from which or to which the dendrite evolves. Our proposed pressure-mediated TDSE microgravity experiment, obviates this difficulty, because the transient occurs between two well-characterized steady-states, rather than between an ill-defined initial state and the final steady state. The major results expected are unique data on transient behavior that will extend the scientific bounds from the now well-understood thermal effects, and provide insight into interfacial dynamics where open questions remain.

Koss, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Effect of a Nonplanar Melt-Solid Interface On Lateral Compositional Distribution During Unidirectional Solidification of a Binary Alloy with a Constant Growth Velocity V: Theory - Pt. 1

Infrared detected materials, such as Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te, Hg(1-x)Zn(x)Te have energy gaps almost linearly proportional to their composition. Due to the wide separation of liquidus and solidus curves of their phase diagram, there are compositional segregation in both of the axial and radial directions of these crystals grown in the Bridgman system unidirectionally with constant growth rate. It is important to understand the mechanisms, which affect lateral segregation such that large radially uniform composition crystal can be produced. Following Coriel, etc's treatment, we have developed a theory to study the effect of a curved melt-solid interface shape on lateral composition distribution. The model is considered to be a cylindrical system with azimuthal symmetry and a curved melt-solid interface shape which can be expressed as a linear combination of a series of Bessell's functions. The results show that melt-solid interface shape has a dominant effect on the lateral composition distribution of these systems. For small values of beta, the solute concentration at the melt-solid interface scales linearly with interface shape with a proportional constant of the produce of beta and (1 -k), where beta = VR/D, with V as growth velocity, R as the sample radius, D as the diffusion constant and k as the distribution constant. A detailed theory will be presented. A computer code has been developed and simulations have been performed and compared with experimental results. These will be published in another paper.

Wang, Jai-Ching↗
NASA NTRS1999

Directional Solidification of Pure Succinonitrile and a Succinonitrile-Acetone Alloy

An experimental study of the horizontal Bridgman growth of pure succinonitrile (SCN) and of a succinonitrile-1.0 mol.% acetone alloy (SCN-1.0 mol.% ACE) has been performed. Experiments involving both a stationary thermal field (no-growth case) and a translating thermal field (growth case) were conducted. Growth rates of 2 and 40 micrometers/s were investigated. For the pure SCN experiments, the velocity field in the melt was estimated using video images of seed particles in the melt. Observations of the seed particles indicate that a primary longitudinal convective cell is formed. The maximum velocity of two different particles which traveled along similar paths was the same and equal to 1.49 +/- 0.01 mm/s. The general accuracy of velocity measurements is estimated to be +/- 0.08 mm/s, though the data shows consistency to within +/- 0.02 mm/s. The shape of the solid/liquid interface was also quantitatively determined. The solid/liquid interface was stable (non-dendritic and non-cellular) but not flat; rather it was significantly distorted by the influence of convection in (he melt and, for the growth case, by the moving temperature boundary conditions along the ampoule. It was found that the interface shape and position were highly dependent on the alignment of the ampoule in the apparatus. Consequently, the ampoule was carefully aligned for all experiments. The values for front location agree with those determined in previous experiments. For the alloy experiments, the solid/liquid interface was determined to be unstable at growth rates greater than 2.8 micrometers/s, but stable for the cases of no-growth and growth at 2 micrometers/s. When compared to the shape of the pure SCN interface, the alloy interface forms closer to the cold zone, indicating that the melting temperature decreased due to the alloying element. Extensive temperature measurements were performed on the outside of the ampoule containing pure SCN. The resulting thermal profiles are presented in detail in the results section. It is intended that the interface shape, thermal boundary condition and velocity data presented in this paper be used to test numerical simulations.

Simpson, James E.↗
NASA NTRS1998

3-D Modeling of Directional Solidification of a Non-Dilute Alloy with Temperature and Concentration Fields Coupling via Materials Properties Dependence and via Double Diffusive Convection

Numerical simulation of the HgCdTe growth by the vertical Bridgman method was performed using FIDAP finite element code. Double-diffusive melt convection is analyzed, as the primary factor at controls inhomogeneity of the solidified material. Temperature and concentration fields in the model are also coupled via material properties, such as thermal and solutal expansion coefficients with the dependence on both temperature and concentration, and melting temperature evaluation from pseudobinary CdTe-HgTe phase diagram. Experimental measurements were used to obtain temperature boundary conditions. Parametric study of the melt convection dependence on the gravity conditions was undertaken. It was found, that the maximum convection velocity in the melt can be reduced under certain conditions. Optimal conditions to obtain a near flat solidified interface are discussed. The predicted interface shape is in agreement with one obtained experimentally by quenching. The results of 3-D calculations are compared with previous 2- D findings. A video film featuring 3-D melt convection will be presented.

Bune, Andris V.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Effect of a Nonplanar Melt-Solid Interface on Lateral Compositional Distribution during Unidirectional Solidification of a Binary Alloy with a Constant Growth Velocity V: Theory - Part 1

Infrared detector materials, such as Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te, Hg(1-x)Zn(x)Te have energy gaps almost linearly proportional to its composition. Due to the wide separation of liquidus and solidus curves of their phase diagram, there are compositional segregations in both of axial and radial directions of these crystals grown in the Bridgman system unidirectionally with constant growth rate. It is important to understand the mechanisms which affect lateral segregation such that large uniform radial composition crystal is possible. Following Coriell, etc's treatment, we have developed a theory to study the effect of a curved melt-solid interface shape on the lateral composition distribution. The system is considered to be cylindrical system with azimuthal symmetric with a curved melt-solid interface shape which can be expressed as a linear combination of a series of Bessell's functions. The results show that melt-solid interface shape has a dominate effect on lateral composition distribution of these systems. For small values of b, the solute concentration at the melt-solid interface scales linearly with interface shape with a proportional constant of the product of b and (1 - k), where b = VR/D, with V as growth velocity, R as sample radius, D as diffusion constant and k as distribution constant. A detailed theory will be presented. A computer code has been developed and simulations have been performed and compared with experimental results. These will be published in another paper.

Wang, Jai-Ching↗
NASA NTRS1999

Numerical Modeling and In-Situ Observations of the Dynamics of the Solid/Liquid Interface Morphology During Directional Solidification of Alloys

The departure from interface planarity and the subsequent evolution to a periodic array of cells or dendrites is a fundamental process that characterizes most microstructures in solidified alloys. The growing demand for high quality alloys and semiconductor crystals requires a precise methodology to predict and subsequently control both the interface morphology and the distribution of impurities, additives, and phases in the grown crystal. Apart from its practical significance, the study of morphological evolution has also been viewed as a means to unearth a general paradigm for pattern formation in nature. A previously developed 2D numerical model for the solid/liquid interface tracking has been further refined and used to simulate the time-evolution of the perturbations on the interface. The dynamics of the local growth velocity, interface undercooling and solute concentration at the interface has been theoretically predicted by means of the numerical model for Al-Cu and Pb-Sn alloys. The model shows that perturbations with a wavelengths, lambda greater than a critical wavelength lambda(sub c) continue to grow in time whereas perturbations with lambda < lambda(sub c) cease to propagate. The model further predicts that under certain conditions perturbation can also propagate along the interface. Comparison of these predictions with existing theories of pattern formation and experimental results will be discussed.

Catalina, Adrian V.↗
NASA NTRS1999

An Experimental and Computational Study of Directional Solidification in Transparent Materials

An experimental and numerical study of the horizontal Bridgman growth of pure succinonitrile (SCN) and of a succinonitrile- 1.0 mol.% acetone alloy (SCN- 1.0 mol.% ACE) has been performed. Experiments at growth rates of 0, 2 and 40 micron/s were investigated. The solid/liquid interface was stable (non-dendritic and non-cellular); however, it was not flat. Rather, it was significantly distorted by the influence of convection in the melt and, for the growth cases, by the moving temperature boundary conditions along the ampoule. For the alloy, the interface was.determined to be unstable at growth rates greater than 2.8 micron/s, but stable for the no-growth and 2 micron/s growth cases. When compared to the pure SCN interface, the alloy interface forms closer to the cold zone, indicating that the melting temperature has been suppressed by the addition of the alloying element. Two-dimensional computer simulations were performed for the no-growth case for both the pure and alloy materials. These simulations indicate that a primary longitudinal convective cell is formed in the melt. The maximum magnitude of velocity was calculated to be 1.515 mm/s for pure SCN and 1.724 mm/s for the alloy. The interface shape predicted by the computer simulation agrees well with the experimentally determined shape for the pure SCN case. In ongoing work, numerical simulations of the process during growth conditions are being performed.

Simpson, James E.↗