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Studies have demonstrated versatility of PMR approach for tailor making polyimide matrix resins with side range of flow characteristics. By simply adjusting molar ratio of reactants in monomer mixture, resins having flow values of as much as 20% can be achieved.
A model was developed to generate quantitative estimates of the risk associated with the release of graphite fibers during fires involving commercial aircraft constructed with graphite fiber composite materials. The model was used to estimate the risk associated with accidents at several U.S. airports. These results were then combined to provide an estimate of the total risk to the nation.
Smart structures deployed in low earth orbit will be exposed to a hostile environment which will include temperature extremes during each orbit as the platform moves from the day to the night side. The stresses due to thermal cycling may compromise the performance of embedded fiber optic strain sensors because of differential thermal expansion of the fiber and the composite material. The effects of elevated temperature and thermal cycling on the performance of a fiber optic strain sensor embedded in a graphite-epoxy tube have been investigated for temperatures from 65 to 220 F. The results indicate that the fiber optic strain sensor measurements correlate well with conventional resistance strain gages attached to the tube.
The effects of high energy radiation on mechanical properties and on the molecular and structural properties of graphite fiber reinforced composites are assessed so that durability in space applications can be predicted. A listing of composite systems irradiated along with the maximum radiation dose applied and type of mechanical tests performed is shown. These samples were exposed to 1/2 MeV electrons.
The feasibility of applying the in situ fiberization process to the fabrication of strain isolation pads (SIP) for the Space Shuttle and to the fabrication of graphite-epoxy composites was evaluated. The ISF process involves the formation of interconnected polymer fiber networks by agitation of dilute polymer solutions under controlled conditions. High temperature polymers suitable for SIP use were fiberized and a successful fiberization of polychloro trifluoroethylene, a relatively high melting polymer, was achieved. Attempts to fiberize polymers with greater thermal stability were unsuccessful, apparently due to characteristics caused by the presence of aromaticity in the backbone of such materials. Graphite-epoxy composites were fabricated by interconnecting two dimensional arrays of graphite fiber with polypropylene IS fibers with subsequent epoxy resin impregnation. Mechanical property tests were performed on laminated panels of this material to evaluate intralaminar and interlaminar shear strength, and thus fracture toughness. Test results were generally unpromising.
Moire interferometry by reflection has been demonstrated using a real reference grating of 1200 lines/mm. The method is shown to be well adapted to thermal environments. Thermal expansion coefficients of graphite-epoxy composites have been measured with high precision over a wide range from nearly zero to 3300 microstrains in the temperature range 297-422 K. Random errors characterized by one standard deviation can be as small as one microstrain.
Studies were conducted to improve the thermo-oxidative stability (TOS) of PMR type polyimides by the substitution of para-aminostyrene (PAS) for the nadic ester endcap in second generation PMR polyimides (PMR-2). The nadic endcap which provides the PMR polyimides with their relative ease of fabrication, both by limiting the molecular weight of the prepolymer and by undergoing the final addition cure without volatiles, is also the weak link with regard to TOS. A polyimide formulated with PAS endcaps, called V-CAP, utilizes a two step reaction sequence similar to that of the PMR polyimides and can be easily autoclave molded into low void composite materials. Resin studies included two formulations of both PMR-2 and V-CAP, corresponding to n=9 and n=14 prepolymer stoichiometry. Unidirectional reinforced T40R graphite fiber laminates were fabricated from each of the resins was post-cured in either air at 385 C or nitrogen at 400 C. Composite specimens were aged in air at 371 C and mechanical properties were measured at 371 C before and after exposure.
Studies were conducted to improve the thermo-oxidative stability (TOS) of PMR type polyimides by the substitution of para-aminostyrene (PAS) for the nadic ester endcap in second generation PMR polyimides (PMR-2). The nadic endcap which provides the PMR polyimides with their relative ease of fabrication, both by limiting the molecular weight of the prepolymer and by undergoing the final addition cure without volatiles, is also the weak link with regard to TOS. A polyimide formulated with PAS endcaps, called V-CAP, utilizes a two step reaction sequence similar to that of the PMR polyimides and can be easily autoclave molded into low void composite materials. Resin studies included two formulations of both PMR-2 and V-CAP, corresponding to n = 9 and n = 14 prepolymer stoichiometry. Unidirectional reinforced T40R graphite fiber laminates were fabricated from each of the resins was post-cured in either air at 385 C or nitrogen at 400 C. Composite specimens were aged in air at 371 C and mechanical properties were measured at 371 C before and after exposure.
This report describes critical mineral/rare earth element resources, including Gulf Coast coal resources, and waste streams including coal ash from power plants, red mud from alumina processing, heavy mineral concentrates from sand mining industry, zeolite, graphite, and produced water with oil and gas.
A cost-effective method is being developed for producing solar cell quality sheet silicon by dip coating inexpensive ceramic substrates with a thin layer of large grain silicon. Mullite (Aluminum Silicate) ceramic substrates coated with a thin layer of graphite have been dipped into molten silicon to produce 20-150 micron thick layers having grain sizes as large as .4 cm x 4 cm. With these silicon layers photovoltaic diodes have been fabricated with measured and inherent conversion efficiencies of 4% and 7%, respectively.
Research activities are described for a NASA-supported program at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory to develop graphite fiber-aluminum matrix composites. A chemical vapor deposition apparatus was constructed for continuously coating graphite fibers with TiC. As much as 150 meters of continuously coated fibers were produced. Deposition temperatures were varied from 1365 K to about 1750 K, and deposition time from 6 to 150 seconds. The 6 sec deposition time corresponded to a fiber feed rate of 2.54 m/min through the coater. Thin, uniform, adherent TiC coats, with thicknesses up to approximately 0.1 micrometer were produced on the individual fibers of Thornel 50 graphite yarns without affecting fiber strength. Although coat properties were fairly uniform throughout a given batch, more work is needed to improve the batch-to-batch reproducibility. Samples of TiC-coated Thornel 50 fibers were infiltrated with an aluminum alloy and hot-pressed in vacuum to produce small composite bars for flexure testing. Strengths as high as 90% of the rule-of-mixtures strength were achieved. Results of the examination of the fracture surfaces indicate that the bonding between the aluminum and the TiC-coated fibers is better than that achieved in a similar, commercially infiltrated material made with fibers having no observable surface coats. Several samples of Al-infiltrated, TiC-coated Thornel 50 graphite yarns, together with samples of the commercially infiltrated, uncoated fibers, were heated for 100 hours at temperatures near the alloy solidus. The TiC-coated samples appear to undergo less reaction than do the uncoated samples. Photomicrographs are shown.
In an effort to elucidate the changes in molecular structural and mechanical properties of epoxy/graphite fiber composites upon exposure to ionizing radiation in a simulated space environment, spectroscopic and surface properties of tetraglycidyl-4,4'-diamino diphenyl methane (TGDDM) red with diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS) and T-300 graphite fiber were investigated following exposure to ionizing radiation. Cobalt-60 gamma radiation and 1/2 MeV electrons were used as radiation sources. The system was studied using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis.
Results of tests conducted to demonstrate that composite structures save weight, possess long term durability, and can be fabricated at costs competitive with conventional metal structures are presented with focus on the use of graphite-epoxy in the design of a stabilizer for the Boeing 737 aircraft. Component definition, materials evaluation, material design properties, and structural elements tests are discussed. Fabrication development, as well as structural repair and inspection are also examined.
Atomically resolved images of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) in air at point contact have been obtained. Direct contact between tip and sample or contact through a contamination layer provides a conduction mechanism in addition to the exponential tunneling mechanism responsible for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging. Current-voltage (I-V) spectra were obtained while scanning in the current imaging mode with the feedback circuit interrupted in order to study the graphite imaging mechanism. Multiple tunneling tips are probably responsible for images without the expected hexagonal or trigonal symmetry. The observations indicate that the use of HOPG for testing and calibration of STM instrumentation may be misleading.
The momentum transfer and blow-off vapor yield resulting from the deposition of a pulsed high-power electron beam onto a plane graphite target with surface temperatures of 300 K and 5000 K are examined experimentally. The results show that with identical electron beams the momentum transfer and vapor yield are between two and three times larger when irradiating the 5000 K surface as compared with the 300 K surface.
Coatings made of boron, silicon carbide, silica, and silica-like materials were studied to determine their ability to increase resistance of graphite fibers. The most promising results were attained by chemical vapor depositing silicon carbide on graphite fiber followed by oxidation, and drawing graphite fiber through ethyl silicate followed by appropriate heat treatments. In the silicon carbide coating studies, no degradation of the graphite fibers was observed and resistance values as high as three orders of magnitude higher than that of the uncoated fiber was attained. The strength of a composite fabricated from the coated fiber had a strength which compared favorably with those of composites prepared from uncoated fiber. For the silica-like coated fiber prepared by drawing the graphite fiber through an ethyl silicate solution followed by heating, coated fiber resistances about an order of magnitude greater than that of the uncoated fiber were attained. Composites prepared using these fibers had flexural strengths comparable with those prepared using uncoated fibers, but the shear strengths were lower.
Several types of cast irons are directionally solidified aboard the KC-135 aircraft. Also, control samples are run on Earth for comparison. Some of these samples are unusable because of various mechanical problems; the analysis and the interpretation of results on the samples that are run successfully is discussed.
Despite its high anodic stability, common organosulfur solvents such as ethyl methyl sulfone and sulfolane typically exhibit poor solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation capability. Here, to address this, the fluorinated organic sulfate 4-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,2-dioxathiolane 2,2-dioxide (TFDTD) was developed as an effective additive for tailoring organosulfur-based electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries. This development was guided by the functionality selection principle and careful evaluation of feasibility in organic synthesis. TFDTD can be readily synthesized through the reaction between trifluoropropylene glycol and sulfuryl chloride. The ring structure of the organic sulfate enables the formation of a stable SEI on the anode, while the fluorination of the sulfate not only enhances its chemical stability and oxidation potential, but also its effectiveness to protect the anode by increasing its reduction potential, rendering it preferentially reduced on the anode surface before the decomposition of other electrolyte components. Introducing TFDTD facilitates the generation of a robust solidelectrolyte interphase on the graphite anode, significantly enhancing cell performance. Moreover, coupling the use of TFDTD with vinylene carbonate provides further protection on the cathode surface, enabling exceptionally stable, high-voltage, long-term cycling of Gr||NMC full cells.