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Technique prevents silicon wafers from adhering to susceptor following silicon epitaxial deposition. Annular ring of refractory material goes around wafer during epitaxial deposit. Silicon is deposited on ring, susceptor, and portions of wafer. Ring breaks away from susceptor and wafer and no silicon undergrowth occurs.
Split nut with internal taper to hold specially formed specimen composed of filaments of refractory material provides means for holding at high temperature and under tension so that performance evaluations may be made.
The catastrophic disintegration in air at intermediate temperatures of refractory materials which are very resistant to oxidation at high temperatures is known as pest. A study was undertaken to determine whether the mechanism proposed for pest failure in silicides might also be responsible for pest failure in NbAl3. The aim was to correlate oxidation kinetics in the range where disintegration of NbAl3 is observed with delayed failure data obtained under similar conditions. Studies were also undertaken to develop some understanding of deformation mechanisms in both silicides and aluminides.
A model is proposed for the formation and evolution of the Earth's core which provides an adequate energy source for maintaining the geodynamo. A modified inhomogeneous accretion model is proposed which leads to initial iron and refractory enrichment at the center of the planet. The probable heat source for melting of the core is the decay of Al. The refractory material is emplaced irregularly in the lowermost mantle with uranium and thorium serving as a long lived heat source. Fluid motions in the core are driven by the differential heating from above and the resulting cyclonic motions may be the source of the geodynamo.
The operation of gamma ray lasers (gasers) are studied. It is assumed that the nuclear isomers mentioned in previously published papers have inherent limitations. It is further assumed that the judicious use of Bormann effect or the application of the total external reflection of low energy gamma radiation at grazing angle of incidence may permit the use of a gaser crystal sufficiently long to achieve observable stimulated emission. It is suggested that a long lived 0(+) isomer decaying by low energy gamma ray emission to a short lived 2(+) excited nuclear state would be an attractive gaser candidate. It is also suggested that the nuclear isomer be incorporated in a matrix of refractory material having an electrostatic field gradient whose principal axis lies along the length of the medium. This results in the preferential transmission of electric quadrupole radiation along the length of the medium.
A model for the formation and evolution of the earth's core, which provides an adequate energy source for maintaining the geodynamo, is proposed. A modified inhomogeneous accretion model is proposed which leads to initial iron and refractory enrichment at the center of the planet. The probable heat source for melting of the core is the decay of Al-26. The refractory material is emplaced irregularly in the lowermost mantle with uranium and thorium serving as a long-lived heat source. Fluid motions in the core are driven by the differential heating from above and the resulting cyclonic motions may be the source of the geodynamo.
It is proposed that charged particles from the Jovian magnetosphere, contaminants such as sulfur from Io, and high-velocity micrometeoritic matter, combine to darken, redden, and alter the surface of Amalthea revealed by Voyager; whose few isolated bright spots have a distinct greenish spectrum. A major finding of this analysis is that available spectral reflectance data contain little information about the bulk composition of the satellite. The effects of contamination by sulfur and its allotropes are shown to redden a variety of bulk compositions: carbonaceous material, refractory minerals, iron and iron sulfides, and moderate temperature silicates. The bright, greenish spots probably identify locations in which atypical alteration processes occur, such as variations in the amount of contaminant sulfur in micrometeoritic glasses or in the relative abundances of certain sulfur allotropes.
The thermal shock resistance of Si2N2O refractory material was studied. The thermal expansion coeff. is 3.55x10 to the -6th power at 20 to 800 C and 2.86x10 to the -6th power m/m/deg at 20 to 200 C. The breaking loads are high at high stress. Young's modulus E and the shear modulus G decrease linearly with increasing porosity. For dense material E sub o approx. = 216,500 N/mm2 and G approx = 90,600 N/mm2. The Vickers hardness of the dense material is comparable to that of sapphire. The results on thermal shock show that R, the breaking load, stays constant for T T sub c, the first cracks appear and R decreases sharply for T=T sub c. As the severity of the thermal shock is increased at T T sub c, a small no. of new, large-size cracks appears. The shock's cumulative effect is negligible, and repeated shocks do not change the cracks. The low values of the thermal expansion coefficient and Young's modulus and the high tension breaking load are considered. Sintered Si2N2O with 5% MgO shows excellent cracking resistance under thermal shock.
Preliminary results from a spacecraft system study show that an optimum hot junction temperature is in the range of 1500 K for advanced nuclear reactor technology combined with thermoelectric conversion. Advanced silicon germanium thermoelectric conversion is feasible if hot junction temperatures can be raised roughly 100 C or if gallium phosphide can be used to improve the figure of merit, but the performance is marginal. Two new classes of refractory materials, rare earth sulfides and boron-carbon alloys, are being investigated to improve the specific weight of the generator system. Preliminary data on the sulfides have shown very high figures of merit over short temperature ranges. Both n- and p-type doping have been obtained. Pure boron-carbide may extrapolate to high figure of merit at temperatures well above 1500 K but not lower temperature; n-type conduction has been reported by others, but not yet observed in the JPL program. Inadvertant impurity doping may explain the divergence of results reported.
Phase relationships and the mechanical properties of zirconia are examined as well as the thermal conductivity, deformation, diffusion, and chemical reactivity of this refractory material. Observations from the literature particular to plasma-sprayed material and implications for gas turbine engine applications are discussed. The literature review indicates that Mg-PSZ (partially stabilized zirconia) and Ca-PSZ are unsuitable for advanced gas turbine applications; a thorough characterization of the microstructure of plasma-sprayed zirconia is needed. Transformation-toughened zirconia may be suitable for use in monolithic components.
A high-temperature Hall-effect apparatus is described which allows measurements up to temperatures greater than 1200 K using the van der Pauw method. The apparatus was designed for measurements on refractory materials having high charge carrier concentrations and generally low mobilities. Pressure contacts are applied to the samples. Consequently, special contacting methods, peculiar to a specific sample material, are not required. The apparatus has been semiautomated to facilitate measurements. Results are presented on n- and p-type silicon.
Proton irradiation of a variety of ice mixtures was carried out to study the effect of galactic cosmic ray irradiation of comets in the Oort Cloud. Three significant effects were noted: (1) production of new molecules; (2) production of a more energetic ice at low temperatures; (3) production of a non-volatile, complex organic residue. These phenomena suggest various effects on new comets approaching the sun including enhanced activity. Experiments on the condensation of silicate grains provide information on the condensation mechanism and properties of grains. Controlled annealing of the amorphous condensates shows how crystallization occurs. Infrared spectra of different stages of crystallization contain features that may identify composition, structure and history of refractory material.
The basic photovoltaic properties of a given crystalline silicon specimen seem to be governed by density and nature of two to three dimensional lattice defects. These are mainly generated by primary growth conditions as grain boundaries of more or less intrinsic character or second phase precipitates from supersaturated solutions of carbon or oxygen. Considerably high values of both solubility and diffusivity in connection with their abundance in common refractory material systems account for the predominance of the two particular elements. Unsaturated dislocations of different types very often can be seen as a consequence of the existence of more dimensional defects as described initially. The final performance of a solar cell is dependent of the concentration and distribution of recombination active centers in the different regions of this device. Typical representatives are fast diffusing transition metals in form of either single atoms or simple complexes. Their avoidance, annihilation, or removal is of great concern in different fields of electronic materials development.
Technique development and the application of electromagnetic levitation to thermophysical property measurement, including determining heats of fusion, heat capacities, and enthalpy increment functions for extremely refractory materials are discussed. Tungsten properties and the development of an apparatus employing electromagnetic levitation and electron beam heating capable of melting levitating tungsten high temperature heat content measurements by drop calorimetry are emphasized. The development of a prototype microcomputer data acquisition system suitable for controlling the ground based system, with consequent improvement in system handling, which can serve as a model for the system needed for flight experiments is described, which include the development of techniques for imaging pyrometry at temperatures above 3500 K, a semiautomatic calorimeter system capable of handling liquid tungsten, and development of a two color imaging pyrometer system.
Relatively-inexpensive radiant furnace brings specimen in controlled atmosphere to temperature higher than previously attainable - nearly as high as maximum operating temperature of heating element. Heating element made of refractory material like tungsten, molybdenum, graphite, or silicon carbide, or consists of plasma or electric arcs. Furnace distributes heat fairly uniformly over surface of specimen.
One of the goals of the HOST Program is the development of electrical resistance strain gages for static strain measurements at temperatures equal to or greater than 1273 K. Strain gage materials must have a reproducible or predictable response to temperature, time and strain. It is the objective of this research to investigate criteria for the selection of materials for such applications through electrical properties studies. The results of the investigation of two groups of materials, refractory compounds and binary alloy solid solutions are presented.
The fabrication and low-frequency testing of the first edge-geometry NbN/MgO/NbN superconducting tunnel junctions are reported. The use of an edge geometry allows very small junction areas to be obtained, while the all-NbN electrodes permit operation at 8-10 K with a potential maximum operating frequency above 1 THz. Edge definition in the base NbN film was accomplished utilizing Ar ion milling with an Al2O3 milling mask, followed by a lower energy ion cleaning step. This process has produced all-refractory-material tunnel junctions with areas as small as 0.1 sq micron, resistance-area products less than 21 ohm sq micron, and subgap to normal state resistance ratios larger than 18.
Thermal conductivities determined from engineering model used to predict accurately thermal responses of multicomponent insulation on spacecraft. Types of insulation studied include such composite parts as alumina-enhanced thermal barrier backed by low-density fibrous refractory material. Internal responses of various types of multicomponent insulation to aerothermodynamic heating calculated with help of computer program that implements engineering model for thermal conductivity. Transfer of heat by internal radiation plays major role in responses of fibrous materials at high temperatures and incorporated into model and program. Used in future spacecraft and exposed during reentry and aerobraking maneuvers in outer atmosphere to environments even harsher than that of Space Shuttle.