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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 91 records · Page 5

FY21 Status Report on the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Database (MSTDB) Development

This report describes the thermodynamic assessments for the ZrF 4 -BeF 2 , AlCl 3 -NaCl, AlCl3-KCl and the PuCl 3 -CsCl pseudo-binary subsystems. Calculation results are compared to the inputs used to optimize the adjustable model parameters. The data came from experimental studies reported in the open literature, from the MSR research community, and/or computational results generated within the NEAMS program and from collaborators. The models from the thermodynamic assessment of these salt systems are integrated into the MSTDB-TC (Molten Salt Thermal Properties Database-Thermochemical). A brief description of the companion MSTDB-TP (Molten Salt Thermal Properties Database-Thermophysical) is given along with an overview of the approach for predicting both thermodynamic and thermophysical property behavior of multicomponent systems.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Toward efficient elastocaloric systems: Predicting material thermal properties with high fidelity

A critical need to accurately model thermal behaviors of materials that exhibit strong elastocaloric effects, including predicting the effects themselves at varying stresses and temperatures, has been addressed using a simple and versatile physics-based approach. The key factor leading to the high precision is approximating the underlying elastic phase transition as a smooth modification of lattice entropy between coexisting phases. Once the phase transformation entropy is modeled to match experimentally measured strain as a function of temperature and applied stress, estimating the heat capacity, entropy, and isothermal entropy and adiabatic temperature changes in temperature-stress coordinates becomes straightforward. This approach provides insight into how thermal properties of elastocaloric materials vary through the transition based on strain measurements that are simple to perform and interpret. In addition to aiding in the rapid evaluation of new and existing elastocaloric materials, this advance is expected to prove invaluable for accurate heat transfer modeling aimed at designing efficient regenerative elastocaloric cooling devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermal properties of composites with bismaleimide-vinyl poly(styrylpyridine) blends

Thermal properties, flammability, and selected mechanical properties of eight different graphite composite panels fabricated using four different resin matrices and two types of graphite reinforcement were investigated and compared with the properties of an epoxy composite, MXB 7203. The resin matrices included XU71775/H795, a blend of vinyl poly(styrylpyridine) and bismaleimide; H795, a bismaleimide; Cycom 6162, a phenolic; and PSP 6022M, a poly(styrylpyridine). The graphite fiber was AS-4 used in the form of tape or fabric. It was found that the XU71775/H795 blend with the graphite tape was the optimum design giving the lowest heat release rate, while the control epoxy panel exhibited the highest total heat release and heat release rates, highest smoke and CO evolution, highest mass losses, and lowest oxygen index of all the composites tested.

Kourtides, D. A.↗

Evolution of elastic and thermal properties of cementitious composites containing micro-size lightweight fillers after exposure to elevated temperature

This work studies the evolution of elastic and thermal properties of cementitious composites containing micro-size lightweight fillers after exposure to elevated temperatures (up to 800 °C). A multiscale investigation is carried out to study the thermal degradation of cementitious composite materials at multiple scale levels: at cement past level, the dehydration kinetics of cement hydrates (i.e., C–S–H, CH and aluminate hydrates) and development of microcracks are studied as functions of exposure temperatures. The damage mechanism of the inclusion phases and damages within the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) under elevated temperature are also investigated. In addition, the change of mechanical (i.e., elastic moduli, compressive strengths) and thermal (thermal conductivities) properties are measured as functions of the exposure temperature. Based on the experimental studies, a multiscale thermal degradation model is developed where the thermal degradations of cement paste (including water composition, porosity, and solid phase changes), inclusion phases, and the interfaces are captured through a multiscale sub-stepping homogenization scheme. The thermal degradation model is validated through multiple sets of experimental data. Finally, the influence of key parameters including the particle size distribution of the inclusions, the chemical composition, as well as the effects of ITZ damage are studied.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Micromechanics of intraply hybrid composites: Elastic and thermal properties

Composite micromechanics are used to derive equations for predicting the elastic and thermal properties of unidirectional intraply hybrid composites. The results predicted using these equations are compared with those predicted using approximate equations based on the rule of mixtures, linear laminate theory, finite element analysis and limited experimental data. The comparisons for three different intraply hybrids indicate that all four methods predict approximately the same elastic properties and are in good agreement with measured data. The micromechanics equations and linear laminate theory predict about the same values for thermal expansion coefficients. The micromechanics equations predict through-the-thickness properties which are in good agreement with the finite element results.

Chamis, C. C.↗

Determining the Thermal Properties of Space Lubricants

Many mechanisms used in spacecrafts, such as satellites or the space shuttle, employ ball bearings or gears that need to be lubricated. Normally this is not a problem, but in outer space the regular lubricants that are used on Earth will not function properly. Regular lubricants will quickly vaporize in the near vacuum of space. A unique liquid called a perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPE) has an extremely low vapor pressure, around l0(exp -10) torr at 20 C, and has been used in numerous satellites and is currently used in the space shuttle. Many people refer to the PFPEs as "liquid Teflon". PFPE lubricants however, have a number of problems with them. Lubricants need many soluble additives, especially boundary and anti-wear additives, in them to function properly. All the regular known boundary additives are insoluble in PFPEs and so PFPEs lubricate poorly under highly loaded conditions leading to many malfunctioning ball bearings and gears. JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, is designing and building a centrifuge rotor to be installed in the International Space Station. The centrifuge rotor is part of a biology lab module. They have selected a PFPE lubricant to lubricate the rotor s ball bearings and NASA bearing experts feel this is not a wise choice. An assessment of the centrifuge rotor design is being conducted by NASA and part of the assessment entails knowing the physical and thermal properties of the PFPE lubricant. One important property, the thermal diffusivity, is not known. An experimental apparatus was set up in order to measure the thermal diffusivity of the PFPE. The apparatus consists of a constant temperature heat source, cylindrical Pyrex glassware, a thermal couple and digital thermometer. The apparatus was tested and calibrated using water since the thermal diffusivity of water is known.

Maldonado, Christina M.↗

Analytical study of effects of surface and environmental thermal properties on moisture in composites

The influence of surface and environmental thermal properties on the moisture absorption in fiber-reinforced polymeric-resin-matrix composite materials which have been subjected to convection and solar radiation was studied. Predicted moisture contents based on the conditions at the heated surface and in the ambient air were compared for both short term and long term exposures over a wide range of values for emittance, solar absorptance, convective heat transfer coefficient, solar radiation, ambient temperature, and orientation of the surface with respect to the sun. The calculations showed that absorptance and heat transfer coefficient have significant effects on the moisture content.

Tompkins, S. S.↗

Physical and Thermal Properties Evaluated of Teflon FEP Retrieved From the Hubble Space Telescope During Three Servicing Missions

Mechanical properties of aluminized Teflon fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) thermal control materials on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) exposed to low Earth orbit for up to 9.7 years have significantly degraded, with extensive cracking occurring on orbit. The NASA Glenn Research Center and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have collaborated on analyzing the physical and thermal properties of aluminized FEP (FEP-Al, DuPont) materials retrieved in December 1999 during HST's third servicing mission (SM3A). Comparisons have been made to properties of FEP-Al retrieved during the first and second HST servicing missions, SM1 and SM2, in order to determine degradation processes for FEP on HST.

Dever, Joyce A.↗

Designing Quaternary and Quinary Refractory-Based High-Entropy Alloys: Statistical Analysis of Their Lattice Distortion, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties

The rapid evolution in materials science has resulted in a significant interest in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) for their unique properties. This study focuses on understanding both quaternary and quinary body-centered cubic (BCC) of 12 refractory-based HEAs, and on analysis of their electronic structures, lattice distortions, mechanical, and thermal properties. A comprehensive assessment is undertaken by means of density functional theory (DFT)-based first principles calculations. It is well known that multiple constituents lead to notable lattice distortions, especially in quinary HEAs. This distortion, in turn, has significant implications on the electronic structure that ultimately affect mechanical and thermal behaviors of these alloys such as ductility, lattice thermal conductivity, and toughness. Our in-depth analysis of their electronic structures revealed the role of valence electron concentration and its correlation with bond order and mechanical properties. Local lattice distortion (LD) was investigated for these 12 HEA models. M1 (WTiVZrHf), M7 (TiZrHfW), and M12 (TiZrHfVNb) have the highest LD whereas the models M3 (MoTaTiV), M5 (WTaCrV), M6 (MoNbTaW), and M9 (NbTaTiV) have the less LD. Furthermore, we investigated the thermal properties focusing on Debye temperature (ΘD), thermal conductivity (κ), Grüneisen parameter (γα), and dominant phonon wavelength (λdom). The NbTaTiV(M9) and TiVNbHf(M10) models have significantly reduced lattice thermal conductivities (κL). This reduction is due to the mass increase and strain fluctuations, which in turn signify lattice distortion. The findings not only provide an understanding of these promising materials but also offer guidance for the design of next-generation HEAs with properties tailored for potential specific applications.

Materials Science↗

Investigation of mechanical and thermal properties of microwave-sintered lunar simulant materials using 2.45 GHz radiation

The mechanical and thermal properties of lunar simulant material were investigated. An alternative method of examining thermal shock in microwave-sintered lunar samples was researched. A computer code was developed that models how the fracture toughness of a thermally shocked lunar simulant sample is related to the sample hardness as measured by a micro-hardness indentor apparatus. This technique enables much data to be gathered from a few samples. Several samples were sintered at different temperatures and for different times at the temperatures. The melting and recrystallization characteristics of a well-studied binary system were also investigated to see if the thermodynamic barrier for the nucleation of a crystalline phase may be affected by the presence of a microwave field. The system chosen was the albite (sodium alumino silicate) anorthite system (calcium alumino silicate). The results of these investigations are presented.

Meek, T. T.↗

Thermal properties of U-Mo alloys irradiated under high fission power density

A variety of physical and thermal property measurements made on irradiated U-Mo alloy monolithic fuel samples with a Zr diffusion barrier and clad in Al alloy 6061 are reported. These properties form the basis for additional investigations in thermal behavior of U-Mo fuel under high performance research reactor irradiation conditions. Measurements were performed on samples harvested from fuel plates irradiated under high fission power density and surface heat flux and complement previous measurements on samples subjected to moderate fission power density and surface heat flux. Specific heat capacity of irradiated monolithic U-Mo increases with increasing temperature and fission density, but carries large uncertainties associated with thickness measurements used to determine the mass fraction of the layer constituents for extraction of the U-Mo specific heat capacity, specifically the very thin and nonuniform Zr diffusion barrier. Density of irradiated monolithic U-Mo decreases with increasing fission density resulting from fission gas swelling and porosity formation. Thermal diffusivity of irradiated monolithic U-Mo increased with increasing temperature and decreased with increasing fission density. Thermal conductivity of irradiated monolithic U-Mo increased with increasing temperature, and in general, appeared to decrease and become less sensitive to temperature with increasing fission density. Thermal conductivity measurements compared to a semi-empirical model agreed within ±30%. It is suspected that the main driver in deviation between model calculations and measurements is the fission gas swelling determination, which does not account for fission power density or irradiation temperature.

uranium (U), molybdenum, nuclear fuel, thermal con↗

Review of thermal properties of graphite composite materials

Flammability, thermal, and selected mechanical properties of composites fabricated with epoxy and other thermally stable resin matrices are described. Properties which were measured included limiting-oxygen index, smoke evolution, thermal degradation products, total-heat release, heat-release rates, mass loss, flame spread, ignition resistance, thermogravimetric analysis, and selected mechanical properties. The properties of 8 different graphite composite panels fabricated using four different resin matrices and two types of graphite reinforcement are described. The resin matrices included: XU71775/H795, a blend of vinyl polystyryl pyridine and bismaleimide; H795, a bismaleimide; Cycom 6162, a phenolic; and PSP 6022M, a polystyryl pyridine. The graphite fiber used was AS-4 in the form of either tape or fabric. The properties of these composites were compared with epoxy composites. It was determined that the blend of vinyl polystyryl pyridine and bismaleimide (XU71775/H795) with the graphite tape was the optimum design giving the lowest heat release rate.

Kourtides, D. A.↗