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At least 145 records · Page 8

Compatibility of buffered uranium carbides with tungsten.

Results of compatibility tests between tungsten and hyperstoichiometric uranium carbide alloys run at 1800 C for 1000 and 2500 hours. These tests compared tungsten-buffered uranium carbide with tungsten-buffered uranium-zirconium carbide. The zirconium carbide addition appeared to widen the homogeneity range of the uranium carbide, making additional carbon available for reaction. Reaction layers could be formed by either of two diffusion paths, one producing UWC2, while the second resulted in the formation of W2C. UWC2 acts as a diffusion barrier for carbon and slows the growth of the reaction layer with time, while carbon diffusion is relatively rapid in W2C, allowing equilibrium to be reached in less than 2500 hours at a temperature of 1800 C.

Phillips, W. M.↗

Microstructural and Creep Properties of Boron- and Zirconium-Containing Cobalt-Based Superalloys

The effects of micro-additions of boron and zirconium on grain-boundary (GB) structure and strength inpolycrystalline γ(f.c.c.) plus γ’(L12) strengthened Co-9.5Al-7.5W-X at. % alloys (X=0-Ternary, 0.05B, 0.01B,0.05Zr, and 0.005B-0.05Zr at. %) are studied. Creep tests performed at 850 °C demonstrate that GB strength and cohesion limit the creep resistance and ductility of the ternary B- and Zr-free alloy due to intergranular fracture. Alloys with 0.05B and 0.005B-0.05Zr both exhibit improved creep strength due to enhanced GB cohesion,compared to the baseline ternary Co-9.5Al-7.5W alloy, but alloys containing 0.01B or 0.05Zr additions displayed no benefit. Atom-probe tomography (APT) is utilized to measure GB segregation, where B and Zr are demonstrated to segregate at GBs. A Gibbsian interfacial excess of 5.57 ± 1.04 atoms nm(exp) -2 was found for B at aGB in the 0.01B alloy and 2.88 ± 0.81 and 2.40 ± 0.84 atoms nm2 for B and Zr, respectively, for the 0.005B-0.05Zr alloy. The GBs in the highest B-containing (0.05B) alloy exhibit micrometer-sized boride precipitates with adjacent precipitate denuded-zones (PDZs), whereas secondary precipitation at the GBs is absent in theother four alloys. The 0.05B alloy has the smallest room temperature yield strength, by 6%, which is attributedto the PDZs, but it exhibits the largest increase in creep strength (with an ~2.5 order of magnitude decrease inthe minimum strain rate for a given stress at 850 °C) over the baseline Co-9.5Al-7.5W alloy.

Creep↗

Improvement of GRCop-84 Through the Addition of Zirconium

GRCop-84 (Cu-8 at.% Cr-4 at.% Nb) has excellent strength, creep resistance, low cycle fatigue (LCF) life and stability at elevated temperatures. It suffers in comparison to many commercially available precipitation-strengthened alloys below 500 C (932 F). It was observed that the addition of Zr consistently improved the mechanical properties of Cu-based alloys especially below 500 C. In an effort to improve the low temperature properties of GRCop-84, 0.35 wt.% Zr was added to the alloy. Limited tensile, creep, and LCF testing was conducted to determine if improvements occur. The results showed some dramatic increases in the tensile and creep properties at the conditions tested with the probability of additional improvements being possible through cold working. LCF testing at room temperature did not show an improvement, but improvements might occur at elevated temperatures.

Ellis, David L.↗

Cobalt-tungsten, ferromagnetic high-temperature alloy

Cobalt-base alloy which combines high temperature strength and magnetic properties has a composition in weight percent of 7-1/2 tungsten, 2-1/2 iron, 1 titanium, 1/2 zirconium, 1/2 carbon, and the balance cobalt. It may be used as construction material for electric motors and generators operating at high temperatures.

Ashbrook, R. L.↗

Ignition and combustion of bulk metals under elevated, normal and reduced gravity conditions

This research effort is aimed at providing further insight into this multi-variable dependent phenomena by looking at the effects of gravity on the ignition and combustion behavior of metals. Since spacecraft are subjected to higher-than-1g gravity loads during launch and reentry and to zero-gravity environments while in orbit, the study of ignition and combustion of bulk metals at different gravitational potentials is of great practical concern. From the scientific standpoint, studies conducted under microgravity conditions provide simplified boundary conditions since buoyancy is removed, and make possible the identification of fundamental ignition mechanisms. The effect of microgravity on the combustion of bulk metals has been investigated by Steinberg, et al. on a drop tower simulator. However, no detailed quantitative work has been done on ignition phenomena of bulk metals at lower or higher-than-normal gravitational fields or on the combustion characteristics of metals at elevated gravity. The primary objective of this investigation is the development of an experimental system capable of providing fundamental physical and chemical information on the ignition of bulk metals under different gravity levels. The metals used in the study, iron (Fe), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) were selected because of their importance as elements of structural metals and their simple chemical composition (pure metals instead of multi-component alloys to avoid complication in morphology and spectroscopic studies). These samples were also chosen to study the two different combustion modes experienced by metals: heterogeneous or surface oxidation, and homogeneous or gas-phase reaction. The experimental approach provides surface temperature profiles, spectroscopic measurements, surface morphology, x-ray spectrometry of metals specimens and their combustion products, and high-speed cinematography of the heating, ignition and combustion stages of the metal specimen. This paper summarizes the results obtained to date from experiments conducted under normal and high-gravity conditions.

Abbud-Madrid, Angel↗

Thermal barrier coating system

A high temperature oxidation resistant, thermal barrier coating system is disclosed for a nickel cobalt, or iron base alloy substrate. An inner metal bond coating contacts the substrate, and a thermal barrier coating covers the bond coating. NiCrAlR, FeCrAlR, and CoCrAlR alloys are satisfactory as bond coating compositions where R=Y or Yb. These alloys contain, by weight, 24.9-36.7% chromium, 5.4-18.5% aluminum, and 0.05 to 1.55% yttrium or 0.05 to 0.53% ytterbium. The coatings containing ytterbium are preferred over those containing yttrium. An outer thermal barrier coating of partial stabilized zirconium oxide (zirconia) which is between 6% and 8%, by weight, of yttrium oxide (yttria) covers the bond coating. Partial stabilization provides a material with superior durability. Partially stabilized zirconia consists of mixtures of cubic, tetragonal, and monoclinic phases.

Stecura, S.↗

Simultaneous Use Of Zr And Mg Anodes In XPS

Improved x-ray source for x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) contains both zirconium anode with beryllium window and magnesium anode with aluminum window. Previously unresolvable peaks of electron-energy spectrum become resolvable. Developed specifically for use in analyzing distributions of chemical constituents in surface layers of specimens of 2219 aluminum alloy and in determining the depths of surface oxide layers and relative proportions of aluminum and oxide in layers. Also used to study chemical constituents of surface layers in other material systems - for example, thin oxide films on silicon-based semiconductor devices, oxide films on alloys, and surface layers affecting adhesion of paints or bonding materials.

Allgeyer, D. F.↗

Microstructural evolution of NARloy-Z at elevated temperatures

Microstructural evolution was studied in samples of wrought and vacuum plasma sprayed (VPS) NARloy-Z exposed to temperatures up to 970 C (1,780 F) for up to 60 h. Samples were heated in a vacuum furnace, followed by rapid quenching in helium (He) gas at a cooling rate of 166 C (300 F) per second. Microstructural analyses were conducted using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). In both the wrought and VPS conditions, precipitates rich in silver (Ag) and zirconium (Zr) were present in the matrix and at the grain boundaries even after long exposure to elevated temperatures. Islands rich in oxygen (O2) and Zr were also observed, as well as incipient melting at the grain boundary triple points. Results indicated that the alloy cannot be homogenized by heat treatment at elevated temperatures.

Singh, J.↗

MSFC Electrostatic Levitator (ESL) Rapid Quench System

The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Electrostatic Levitator (ESL) Laboratory is a unique facility for investigators studying high-temperature materials. The laboratory boasts two levitators in which samples can be levitated, heated, melted, undercooled, and resolidified, all without the interference of a container or data-gathering instrument. The ESL main chamber has been upgraded with the addition of a rapid quench system. This system allows samples to be dropped into a quench vessel that can be filled with a low melting point material, such as a gallium or indium alloy. Thereby allowing rapid quenching of undercooled liquid metals. Up to 8 quench vessels can be loaded into the quench wheel, which is indexed with LabVIEW control software. This allows up to 8 samples to be rapidly quenched before having to open the chamber. The system has been tested successfully on several zirconium samples. Future work will be done with other materials using different quench mediums. Microstructural analysis will also be done on successfully quench samples.

SanSoucie, Michael P.↗

The effect of 0.1 atomic percent zirconium on the cyclic oxidation behavior of beta-NiAl for 300 hours at 1200 C

The long time effect of 0.1 at percent Zr (0.2 wt percent Zr) on the cyclic oxidation behavior of hipped beta-NiAl was studied. Oxidation testing was performed in static air at 1200 C for up to 3000 one-hour exposure cycles. Specific weight change versus time data was modeled with the COSP computer program to analyze cyclic oxidation behavior. The Zr-free stoichiometric alloy oxidized and spalled randomly to bare metal between cycles at a rate high enough to deplete Al to a low enough level that oxidation breakaway took place as nonprotective NiO replaced the alpha-Al2O3/NiAl2O4 scale as the controlling oxide. The Zr minimized this severe type of spalling maintaining the protective alpha-Al2O3 scale even out to 3000 hours for the stoichiometric alloy with no significant Al depletion. A third beta-NiAl alloy containing 0.1 at percent Zr but with 10 percent less Al than the stoichiometric alloy was also tested and showed some depletion of Al, but the protective Al2O3/NiAl2O4 was still maintained to close to 2700 hours.

Barrett, C. A.↗

The effect of 0.1 atomic percent zirconium on the cyclic oxidation behavior of beta-NiAl for 3000 hours at 1200 C

The long time effect of 0.1 at percent Zr (0.2 wt percent Zr) on the cyclic oxidation behavior of hipped beta-NiAl was studied. Oxidation testing was performed in static air at 1200 C for up to 3000 one-hour exposure cycles. Specific weight change versus time data was modeled with the COSP computer program to analyze cyclic oxidation behavior. The Zr-free stoichiometric alloy oxidized and spalled randomly to bare metal between cycles at a rate high enough to deplete Al to a low enough level that oxidation breakaway took place as nonprotective NiO replaced the alpha-Al203/NiAl204 scale as the controlling oxide. The Zr minimized this severe type of spalling maintaining the protective alpha-Al203 scale even out to 3000 hours for the stoichiometric alloy with no significant Al depletion. A third beta-NiAl alloy containing 0.1 at percent Zr but with 10 percent less Al than the stoichiometric alloy was also tested and showed some depletion of Al, but the protective Al203/NiAl204 was still maintained to close to 2700 hours.

Barrett, C. A.↗

Measurements of Total Hemispherical Emissivity of Several Stably Oxidized Metals and Some Refractory Oxide Coatings

A description of the apparatus and methods used for obtaining total hemispherical emissivity is presented, and data for several stably oxidized metals are included. The metals which were tested included type 347 stainless steel, tungsten, and Haynes alloys B, C, X, and 25. No values of emissivity were obtained for tungsten or Haynes alloy B because of the nature of the oxides produced. The refractory oxide coatings tested were flame-sprayed alumina and zirconia. The results of the investigation indicate that strongly adherent, oxidized surfaces of a high stable emissivity can be produced on type 347 stainless steel for which the total hemispherical emissivity varied from 0.87 to 0.91 for temperatures from 600 F to 2,000 F. For this same temperature range, the Haynes alloys tested showed values of total hemispherical emissivity from 0.90 to 0.96 for alloy C, from 0.85 to 0.88 for alloy X, and from 0.85 to 0.89 for alloy 25. Haynes alloy B and tungsten formed nonadherent oxides at elevated temperatures and, therefore, stable emissivities were not obtained. The results obtained for the flame-sprayed ceramics (alumina and zirconia) showed considerably higher values of total emissivity than those measured for coatings applied by other methods. Emissivity values ranging from 0.69 to 0.44 for aluminum oxide and from 0.62 to 0.44 for zirconium oxide were measured for temperatures from 800 F to 2,000 F.

Wade, William R.↗

Nonprotective Alumina Growth in Sulfur-Doped NiAl(Zr)

The 1200 C oxidation behavior of NiAl was examined at various levels of sulfur and zirconium dopants to test the possibility of a critical S/Zr ratio required for adhesion. Cyclic furnace testing for 200 1 -hr cycles and interrupted testing for 500 hr were used as screening tests. Pure NiAl and NiAl(Zr) with 0. 14 at.% Zr were chosen as model base compositions; they exhibited normal, slow-growing scales (3 Mg/sq cm) with excellent adhesion for the Zr-doped alloys. NiAl with about 120 ppma S exhibited a substantial weight loss (-20 Mg/sq cm) in cyclic tests and a very large weight gain (+60 Mg/sq cm) in interrupted tests. The major surface phase remained as alpha -Al2O3. Sulfur doping the NiAl(Zr) alloy caused massive weight gains of 80 - 100 Mg/sq cm, swelling, cracking, and nearly complete conversion into NiAl2O4, and alpha- Al2O3. The initial objective of determining critical S/Zr ratios for adhesion was therefore unattainable. Initiation of the catastrophic attack was examined after a 10 hr exposure, revealing a few sites of broad, raised, and cracked ridges. In cross-section, the ridges appeared as modular intrusions, with a complex, fractal, oxide-metal interface. They were primarily alumina (with occasional entrapped islands of NiAl2O4 or pure Ni metal). They possessed a unique microstructure consisting of 0.3 microns lamellae, separated by 0.1 microns open channels. This allowed for rapid growth controlled by gaseous diffusion. The microstructure is discussed in terms of SO2 evolution and a sulfur-driven de-passivation process.

Smialek, James L.↗

Effect of solutes in binary columbium /Nb/ alloys on creep strength

The effect of seven different solutes in binary columbium (Nb) alloys on creep strength was determined from 1400 to 3400 F for solute concentrations to 20 at.%, using a new method of creep-strength measurement. The technique permits rapid determination of approximate creep strength over a large temperature span. All of the elements were found to increase the creep strength of columbium except tantalum. This element did not strengthen columbium until the concentration exceeded 10 at.%. Hafnium, zirconium, and vanadium strengthed columbium most at low temperatures and concentrations, whereas tungsten, molybdenum, and rhenium contributed more to creep strength at high temperatures and concentrations.

Klein, M. J.↗

Benchmarking Surface Tension Measurement Method using two Oscillation Modes in Levitated Liquid Metals

The Faraday forcing method in levitated liquid droplets has recently been introduced as a method for measuring surface tension using resonance. By subjecting an electrostatically-levitated liquid metal droplet to a continuous, oscillatory, electric field, at a frequency nearing that of the droplet’s first principal mode of oscillation (known as mode 2), the method was previously shown to determine surface tension of materials that would be particularly difficult to process by other means, e.g. liquid metals and alloys. It also offers distinct advantages in future work involving high viscosity samples because of the continuous forcing approach. This work presents 1) a benchmarking experimental method to measure surface tension by excitation of the second principal mode of oscillation (known as mode 3) in a levitated liquid droplet and 2) a more rigorous quantification of droplet excitation using a projection method. Surface tension measurements compare favorably to literature values for Zirconium, Inconel 625, and Rhodium, using both modes 2 and 3. Thus, this new method serves as a credible, self-consistent benchmarking technique for the measurement of surface tension

Levitation↗