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At least 19 records

On-Orbit Measurement of the Superconductive Transition Temperatures of YBa2Cu3O(7-x) Thick Films

Thick film superconductors were integrated into hybrid circuits and tested in the Materials In Devices As Superconductors (MIDAS) spaceflight experiment which operated autonomously aboard the MIR space station for 90 days. MIDAS was designed to cool the circuits from 300 to 75K, maintain the temperature at 75K for 28 days, and warm the circuits back to 300K. This cycle was performed a total of three times, during which the superconductive transition temperature was measured during each cool-down and warm-up portion of the experiment. All of the thick films used in this experiment exhibited superconductive transition temperatures of approximately 87K, and no significant differences in the resistance versus temperature properties of the materials were observed among the data collected during pre-flight, flight, and post-flight operations.

Hooker, Matthew W.

Vapor-deposited graded-thickness films

Rotating substrate and slotted mask allow varying film thickness to be deposited from vapor by exposing film substrate to metal vapor through circular mask. Useful for fabricating variable thickness coatings for controlling thermal, electrical, or other properties.

Herzig, H.

Elastohydrodynamic contacts. Effects of dents and grooves on traction and local film thickness

Traction and film thickness were simultaneously measured under sliding elastohydrodynamic (EHD) conditions. The influence of surface topography was investigated by using simulated surfaces produced by depressing dents and grooves in highly polished steel balls. Significant changes in traction occurred depending on the orientation of the surface defects and their location with respect to the contact region. The results can be explained in terms of changes in overall film thickness and redistribution of pressure within the contact region due to micro-EHD effects. It can be concluded that the traction capability of mechanical components operating in thin film lubrication can be enhanced particularly by surface topographical orientation perpendicular to the surface motion. Associated with the higher traction are increases in local shear stress and normal stress as well as an increase in temperature at asperity sites. It is postulated that the local surface topography can become involved in run in or failure initiation even without actual asperity contact.

Wedeven, L. D.

Rational Regulation of Layer‐by‐Layer Processed Active Layer via Trimer‐Induced Pre‐Swelling Strategy for Efficient and Robust Thick‐Film Organic Solar Cells

Thick-film (>300 nm) organic solar cells (OSCs) have garnered intensifying attention due to their compatibility with commercial roll-to-roll printing technology for the large-scale continuous fabrication process. However, due to the uncontrollable donor/acceptor (D/A) arrangement in thick-film condition, the restricted exciton splitting and severe carrier traps significantly impede the photovoltaic performance and operability. For this work, combined with layer-by-layer deposition technology, a twisted 3D star-shaped trimer (BTT-Out) is synthesized to develop a trimer-induced pre-swelling (TIP) strategy, where the BTT-Out is incorporated into the buried D18 donor layer to enable the fabrication of thick-film OSCs. The integrated approach characterizations reveal that the exceptional configuration and spontaneous self-organization behavior of BTT-Out trimer could pre-swell the D18 network to facilitate the acceptor's infiltration and accelerate the formation of D/A interfaces. This enhancement triggers the elevated polarons formation with amplified hole-transfer kinetics, which is essential for the augmented exciton splitting efficiency. Furthermore, the regulated swelling process can initiate the favorable self-assembly of L8-BO acceptors, which would ameliorate carrier transport channels and mitigate carrier traps. As a result, the TIP-modified thin-film OSC devices achieve the champion performance of 20.3% (thin-film) and 18.8% (thick-film) with upgraded stability, among one of the highest performances reported of thick-film OSCs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Film thickness for different regimes of fluid-film lubrication

Mathematical formulas are presented which express the dimensionless minimum film thickness for the four lubrication regimes found in elliptical contacts: isoviscous-rigid regime; piezoviscous-rigid regime; isoviscous-elastic regime; and piezoviscous-elastic regime. The relative importance of pressure on elastic distortion and lubricant viscosity is the factor that distinguishes these regimes for a given conjunction geometry. In addition, these equations were used to develop maps of the lubrication regimes by plotting film thickness contours on a log-log grid of the dimensionless viscosity and elasticity parameters for three values of the ellipticity parameter. These results present a complete theoretical film thickness parameter solution for elliptical constants in the four lubrication regimes. The results are particularly useful in initial investigations of many practical lubrication problems involving elliptical conjunctions.

Hamrock, B. J.

Metallic oxide switches using thick film technology

Metallic oxide thick film switches were processed on alumina substrates using thick film technology. Vanadium pentoxide in powder form was mixed with other oxides e.g., barium, strontium copper and glass frit, ground to a fine powder. Pastes and screen printable inks were made using commercial conductive vehicles and appropriate thinners. Some switching devices were processed by conventional screen printing and firing of the inks and commercial cermet conductor terminals on 96% alumina substrates while others were made by applying small beads or dots of the pastes between platinum wires. Static, and dynamic volt-ampere, and pulse tests indicate that the switching and self-oscillatory characteristics of these devices could make them useful in memory element, oscillator, and automatic control applications.

Patel, D. N.

Film thickness for different regimes of fluid-film lubrication

Film thickness equations are provided for four fluid-film lubrication regimes found in elliptical contacts. These regimes are isoviscous-rigid; viscous-rigid; elastohydrodynamic lubrication of low-elastic-modulus materials (soft EHL), or isoviscous-elastic; and elastohydrodynamic lubrication of high-elastic-modulus materials (hard EHL), or viscous-elastic. The influence or lack of influence of elastic and viscous effects is the factor that distinguishes these regimes. The results are presented as a map of the lubrication regimes, with film thickness contours on a log-log grid of the viscosity and elasticity for three values of the ellipticity parameter.

Hamrock, B. J.

Thick film silicon growth techniques

Thick film silicon ribbons were produced by means of the edge-defined, film-fed growth (EFG) technique. EFG is a process by which single crystals may be grown having a shape controlled by the outside dimensions of a die, the growth taking place from an extremely thin film of liquid fed by capillary action from a crucible below. The principal problem to be overcome in the application of this process to the growth of thick film silicon ribbon relates to the material, such as the shaping die. For the method to operate, this die material must be wet by the liquid silicon. To preserve semiconductor quality, the liquid silicon must not react significantly with the die material. The most promising die material for this application appears to be SiC and SiC-SiO2 admixture. In this case good wetting occurs between the molten silicon and the SiC. C is a relatively unharmful contaminant of Si and additions of quartz to SiC are found to decrease the extent of reaction.

Bates, H. E.

Film thickness measurements on five fluid formulations by the mercury squeeze film capacitance technique

The thinning characteristics of five fluids were studied by measuring film thickness as a function of time. The mercury squeeze film capacitance technique was used. All tests were performed at room temperature. The synthetic hydrocarbon plus a nematic liquid crystal, N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline, thinned according to a Newtonian model and retained its bulk viscosity. The synthetic hydrocarbon plus a phosphonate antiwear additive and the synthetic hydrocarbon plus n-hexadecanol produced residual thick films. The synthetic hydrocarbon base fluids and the synthetic hydrocarbon plus a paraffinic resin displayed viscosity increases during thinning, but no residual films were formed.

Jones, W. R., Jr.

Thick-film materials for silicon photovoltaic cell manufacture

Thick film technology is applicable to three areas of silicon solar cell fabrication; metallization, junction formation, and coating for protection of screened ohmic contacts, particularly wrap around contacts, interconnection and environmental protection. Both material and process parameters were investigated. Printed ohmic contacts on n- and p-type silicon are very sensitive to the processing parameters of firing time, temperature, and atmosphere. Wrap around contacts are easily achieved by first printing and firing a dielectric over the edge and subsequently applying a low firing temperature conductor. Interconnection of cells into arrays can be achieved by printing and cofiring thick film metal pastes, soldering, or with heat curing conductive epoxies on low cost substrates. Printed (thick) film vitreous protection coatings do not yet offer sufficient optical uniformity and transparency for use on silicon. A sprayed, heat curable SiO2 based resin shows promise of providing both optical matching and environmental protection.

Field, M. B.

Applications of film thickness equations

A number of applications of elastohydrodynamic film thickness expressions were considered. The motion of a steel ball over steel surfaces presenting varying degrees of conformity was examined. The equation for minimum film thickness in elliptical conjunctions under elastohydrodynamic conditions was applied to roller and ball bearings. An involute gear was also introduced, it was again found that the elliptical conjunction expression yielded a conservative estimate of the minimum film thickness. Continuously variable-speed drives like the Perbury gear, which present truly elliptical elastohydrodynamic conjunctions, are favored increasingly in mobile and static machinery. A representative elastohydrodynamic condition for this class of machinery is considered for power transmission equipment. The possibility of elastohydrodynamic films of water or oil forming between locomotive wheels and rails is examined. The important subject of traction on the railways is attracting considerable attention in various countries at the present time. The final example of a synovial joint introduced the equation developed for isoviscous-elastic regimes of lubrication.

Hamrock, B. J.

Elastohydrodynamic film thickness model for heavily loaded contacts

An empirical elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thickness formula for predicting the minimum film thickness occurring within heavily loaded contacts (maximum Hertz stresses above 150,000 psi) was developed. The formula was based upon X-ray film thickness measurements made with synthetic paraffinic, fluorocarbon, Type II ester and polyphenyl ether fluids covering a wide range of test conditions. Comparisons were made between predictions from an isothermal EHD theory and the test data. The deduced relationship was found to adequately reflect the high-load dependence exhibited by the measured data. The effects of contact geometry, material and lubricant properties on the form of the empirical model are also discussed.

Loewenthal, S. H.

Elastohydrodynamic film thickness model for heavily loaded contacts

An empirical elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thickness formula for predicting the minimum film thickness occurring within heavily loaded contacts (maximum Hertz stresses above 1.04 GN/sq m (150,000 psi)) was developed. The formula was based upon X-ray film thickness measurements made with synthetic paraffinic, fluorocarbon, Type II ester, and polyphenyl ether fluids covering a wide range of test conditions. Comparisons were made between predictions from an isothermal EHD theory and the test data. The deduced relationship was found to adequately reflect the high-load dependence exhibited by the measured data. The effects of contact geometry, material, and lubricant properties on the form of the empirical model are also discussed.

Loewenthal, S. H.

Thick Films: Electronic Applications. (Latest citations from the Aerospace Database)

The bibliography contains citations concerning the design, development, fabrication, and evaluation of thick film electronic devices. Thick film solar cells, thick films for radiation conduction, deposition processes, conductive inks are among the topics discussed. Applications in military and civilian avionics are examined.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES

Tape casting and partial melting of Bi-2212 thick films

To produce Bi-2212 thick films with high critical current densities tape casting and partial melting is a promising fabrication method. Bi-2212 powder and organic additives were mixed into a slurry and tape casted onto glass by the doctor blade tape casting process. The films were cut from the green tape and partially molten on Ag foils during heat treatment. We obtained almost single-phase and well-textured films over the whole thickness of 20 microns. The orientation of the (a,b)-plane of the grains was parallel to the substrate with a misalignment of less than 6 deg. At 77 K/0T a critical current density of 15, 000 A/sq cm was reached in films of the dimension 1 cm x 2 cm x 20 microns (1 micron V/cm criterion, resistively measured). At 4 K/0T the highest value was 350,000 A/sq cm (1 nV/cm criterion, magnetically measured).

Buhl, D.

Dynamic response of film thickness in spiral-groove face seals

Tests were performed on an inward- and an outward-pumping spiral-groove face seal to experimentally determine the film thickness response to seal seat motions and to gain insight into the effect of secondary seal friction on film thickness behavior. Film thickness, seal seat axial motion, seal frictional torque, and film axial load were recorded as functions of time. The experiments revealed that for sinusoidal axial oscillations of the seal seat, the primary ring followed the seal seat motion very well. For a skewed seal seat, however, the primary ring did not follow the seal seat motion, and load-carrying capacity was degraded. Secondary seal friction was varied over a wide range to determine its effect on film thickness dynamics. The seals were tested with ambient air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure as the fluid medium. The test speed ranged from 7000 to 20,000 rpm. Seal tangential velocity ranged from 34 to 98 m/sec (113 to 323 ft/sec).

Dirusso, E.

Ice-Accretion Scaling Using Water-Film Thickness Parameters

Studies were performed at INTA in Spain to determine water-film thickness on a stagnation-point probe inserted in a simulated cloud. The measurements were correlated with non-dimensional parameters describing the flow and the cloud conditions. Icing scaling tests in the NASA Glenn Icing Research Tunnel were then conducted using the Ruff scaling method with the scale velocity found by matching scale and reference values of either the INTA non-dimensional water-film thickness or a Weber number based on that film thickness. For comparison, tests were also performed using the constant drop-size Weber number and the average-velocity methods. The reference and scale models were both aluminum, 61-cm-span, NACA 0012 airfoil sections at 0 deg. AOA. The reference had a 53-cm-chord and the scale, 27 cm (1/2 size). Both models were mounted vertically in the center of the IRT test section. Tests covered a freezing fraction range of 0.28 to 1.0. Rime ice (n = 1.0) tests showed the consistency of the IRT calibration over a range of velocities. At a freezing fraction of 0.76, there was no significant difference in the scale ice shapes produced by the different methods. For freezing fractions of 0.40, 0.52 and 0.61, somewhat better agreement with the reference horn angles was typically achieved with the average-velocity and constant-film thickness methods than when either of the two Weber numbers was matched to the reference value. At a freezing fraction of 0.28, the four methods were judged equal in providing simulations of the reference shape.

Anderson, David N.