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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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

Development of Surface Engineered Coating Systems for Aluminum Pressure Die Casting Dies: Towards a ‘Smart’ Die Coating

The main objective of this research program was to design and develop an optimal coating system that extends die life by minimizing premature die failure. In high-pressure aluminum die-casting, the die, core pins and inserts must withstand severe processing conditions. Many of the dies and tools in the industry are being coated to improve wear-resistance and decrease down-time for maintenance. However, thermal fatigue in metal itself can still be a major problem, especially since it often leads to catastrophic failure (i.e. die breakage) as opposed to a wear-based failure (parts begin to go out of tolerance). Tooling costs remain the largest portion of production costs for many of these parts, so the ability prevent catastrophic failures would be transformative for the manufacturing industry.The technology offers energy savings through reduced energy use in the die casting process from several factors, including increased life of the tools and dies, reuse of the dies and die components, reduction/elimination of lubricants, and reduced machine down time, and reduction of Al solder sticking on the die. The use of the optimized die coating system will also reduce environmental wastes and scrap parts. Current (2012) annual energy saving estimates, based on initial dissemination to the casting industry in 2010 and market penetration of 80% by 2020, is 3.1 trillion BTU's/year. The average annual estimate of CO2 reduction per year through 2020 is 0.63 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent (MM TCE).

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2015

Maintaining Low Voiding Solder Die Attach for Power Die While Minimizing Die Tilt

This paper addresses work to minimize voiding and die tilt in solder attachment of a large power die, measuring 9.0 mm X 6.5 mm X 0.1 mm (0.354” x 0.256” x 0.004”), to a heat spreader. As demands for larger high power die continue, minimizing voiding and die tilt is of interest for improved die functionality, yield, manufacturability, and reliability. High-power die generate considerable heat, which is important to dissipate effectively through control of voiding under high thermal load areas of the die while maintaining a consistent bondline (minimizing die tilt). Voiding was measured using acoustic imaging and die tilt was measured using two different optical measurement systems. 80Au-20Sn solder reflow was achieved using a batch vacuum solder system with optimized fixturing. Minimizing die tilt proved to be the more difficult of the two product requirements to meet. Process development variables included tooling, weight and solder preform thickness.

Hamm, Randy↗
DOE OSTI2015

High moisture corn stover pelleting in a flat die pellet mill fitted with a 6 mm die: physical properties and specific energy consumption

The quality and specific energy consumption (SEC) of the biomass pellets produced depend upon pelleting process conditions. The present study includes understanding the effect of feedstock moisture in the range of 28–38% (wet basis [w.b.]) and preheating in the range of 30–110°C at two die speeds of 40 and 60 Hz on the physical properties and SEC. A flat die pellet mill fitted with a 6 mm die was used in the present study. The physical properties of pellets such as moisture content, unit, bulk and tapped density, durability, and expansion ratio and SEC of the pelleting process are measured. The results indicate that the pellets produced have durability values in the range of 87–98%, and unit bulk and tapped density in the range of 670–1100, 375–575, and 420–620 kg/m³. Increasing the feedstock moisture content from 33% to 38% (w.b) decreased the unit, bulk and tapped density by about 30–40%. Increasing feedstock moisture content increased the expansion ratio and decreased the density values. A higher feedstock moisture content of 38% (w.b.) and higher preheating temperature of 110°C resulted in lower density and a higher expansion ratio, which can be attributed to flash off of moisture as the material extrudes out of the die. The SEC was in the range of 75–275 kWh/ton. Higher feedstock moisture content of 38% (w.b.) and a lower die speed of 40 Hz increased the SEC, whereas lower to medium preheating temperature (30–70°C), medium feedstock moisture content of 33% (w.b.), and a higher die speed of 60 Hz minimized the SEC to <100 kWh/ton.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

A New Recycled Al–Si–Mg Alloy for Sustainable Structural Die Casting Applications

The use of secondary aluminum for structural components in the automotive industry is limited by the high Fe contents in recycled alloys which often result in the formation of brittle β-Al 5 FeSi phase which reduces the ductility of aluminum castings. In this study, a new secondary Al-Si-Mg alloy with high Fe content (about 0.44 wt.%) was developed for die casting applications. Based on thermodynamic modeling, manganese was added to obtain a designed Fe-to-Mn ratio of 2 which successfully suppressed the formation of β-Al 5 FeSi phase, by forming α-Al 15 (Fe,Mn) 3 Si 2 phase with rounded or hexagonal morphology. Additionally, a fine needle-like π-Al 8 FeMg 3 Si 2 phase was also formed within the eutectic regions. The new recycled alloy showed comparable mechanical properties in as-cast and heat treated (T5 and T6) conditions to three major primary die cast alloys (≤ 0.2 wt.% Fe) with similar composition. Ductility up to 7.4% from tensile elongation was achieved in as-cast recycled alloy due to the modification and refinement of α-Al 15 (Fe,Mn) 3 Si 2 by Mn and Sr additions. Tensile elongation was further improved to 9.1% after T6 treatment as a result of dissolution of π-Al 8 FeMg 3 Si 2 phase, defragmentation of α-Al 15 (Fe,Mn) 3 Si 2 and the spheroidization of Si phase. This new alloy provides a promising path for increasing usage of recycled aluminum with high Fe content in structural die castings for automotive and other applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

On the Effect of Ramp Rate in Damage Accumulation of the CPV Die-Attach: Preprint

It is commonly understood that thermal cycling at high temperature ramp rates may activate unrepresentative failure mechanisms. Increasing the temperature ramp rate of thermal cycling, however, could dramatically reduce the test time required to achieve an equivalent amount of thermal fatigue damage, thereby reducing overall test time. Therefore, the effect of temperature ramp rate on physicaldamage in the CPV die-attach is investigated. Finite Element Model (FEM) simulations of thermal fatigue and thermal cycling experiments are made to determine if the amount of damage calculated results in a corresponding amount of physical damage measured to the die-attach for a variety of fast temperature ramp rates. Preliminary experimental results are in good agreement with simulations andreinforce the potential of increasing temperature ramp rates. Characterization of the microstructure and resulting fatigue crack in the die-attach suggest a similar failure mechanism across all ramp rates tested.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Simulation and Experiment of Thermal Fatigue in the CPV Die Attach: Preprint

FEM simulation and accelerated thermal cycling have been performed for the CPV die attach. Trends in fatigue damage accumulation and equivalent test time are explored and found to be most sensitive to temperature ramp rate. Die attach crack growth is measured through cycling and found to be in excellent agreement with simulations of the inelastic strain energy accumulated. Simulations of anentire year of weather data provides for the relative ranking of fatigue damage between four cites as well as their equivalent accelerated test time.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

An integrated two-dimensional modeling method for predicting ductility of thin-walled die cast magnesium

In this paper, a two-dimensional (2D) microstructure-based modeling method is developed in order to predict the ductility of a thin-walled high pressure die cast magnesium (Mg) by considering the three-dimensional (3D) thru-thickness pore distributions. For this purpose, a series of 3D synthetic microstructure-based finite element models and the corresponding 2D models are first generated with various pore volume fractions, pore size distributions and pore shapes. The input material properties for the 2D models are determined based on the 3D cubic model with a spherical pore and the generalized Neuber’s rule. Based on the resulting ductility of the 3D and 2D models, a 3D/2D ductility correlation curve is developed as a function of the characteristics/shape of the input fracture strain curve used in the 3D model. The validity of the ductility correlation curve is examined with casting samples with actual microstructures. Here, the results show that the suggested 2D modeling methodology can be used together with the ductility correlation curve in predicting the ductility of thin-walled Mg castings.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2012

Relative Lifetime Prediction for CPV Die-Attach Layers: Preprint

In concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) cell assemblies, a large-area die-attach layer is subjected to thermal cycles, leading to thermomechanical fatigue. This causes cracking and the eventual failure of the CPV cell by thermal runaway. We define a damage metric representing lumped progress toward failure and present a numerical model for computing the accumulation of damage for arbitrary transienttemperature conditions. The model is applied to a particular design with a solder die-attach layer. We show that accelerated-test thermal cycles with higher ramp rates cause more damage, both per cycle and per unit time. Outdoor exposure to one entire year in two geographic locations is also simulated, revealing that a year of exposure in Golden, Colorado is equivalent to 1.4 years of exposurein Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗