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Results for “low-temperature oxidation”

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

Deuterium in carbonaceous chondrites

Hydrogen isotopic compositions in seven carbonaceous chondrites lie in the range -70 to +771 per thousand relative to standard mean ocean water. These values decrease, to a range from -145 to +219 per thousand, after low-temperature oxidation in an oxygen plasma. Deuterium enrichment is therefore concentrated in the organic matter, the hydrous silicates probably lying close to the terrestrial range for such material. Calculated values for delta D of the organic fraction are +450 per thousand for Orgueil and Ivuna and up to +1600 per thousand for Renazzo. These enrichments, at least for Orgueil and Ivuna, suggest equilibration with protosolar hydrogen at very low temperatures. Assuming a value of 2.5 x 10 to the -5th for the protosolar D/H ratio, nominal equilibration temperatures of 230 K for silicates and 180 K for organic matter may be derived.

Kolodny, Y.↗

Contaminant removal from enclosed atmospheres by regenerable adsorbents

A system for removing contaminants from spacecraft atmospheres was studied, which utilizes catalyst-impregnated activated carbon followed by in-situ regeneration by low-temperature catalytic oxidation of the adsorbed contaminants. Platinum was deposited on activated carbon by liquid phase impregnation with chloroplatinic acid, followed by drying and high-temperature reduction. Results were obtained for the seven selected spacecraft contaminants by means of three experimental test systems. The results indicate that the contaminants could be removed by oxidation with very little loss in adsorptive capacity. The advantages of a catalyst-impregnated carbon for oxidative regeneration are found to be significant enough to warrent its use.

Goldsmith, R. L.↗

Ignition-delay Characteristics in Modified Open-cup Apparatus of Several Fuels with Nitric Acid Oxidants Within Temperature Range 70 to 105 Degrees F

Fluid properties and low-temperature ignition delays were obtained for approximately 90 fuel-oxidant combinations. A red fuming nitric acid containing approximately 3 percent water and 19 percent nitrogen tetroxide froze at approximately -87 degrees F and ignited several low-viscosity fuel blends of aromatic amines in triethylamine at -76 degrees F and lower. With this acid, the following average ignition delays were obtained with a blend of 30 percent o-toluidine in triethylamine: ...

FUEL SYSTEMS - ENGINES, ROCKET↗

Intensity analysis of XPS spectra to determine oxide uniformity - Application to SiO2/Si interfaces

A simple method of determining oxide uniformity is derived which requires no knowlege of film thickness, escape depth, or film composition. The method involves only the measurement of oxide and substrate intensities and is illustrated by analysis of XPS spectral data for thin SiO2 films grown both thermally and by low-temperature chemical vapor deposition on monocrystalline Si. A region 20-30 A thick is found near the SiO2/Si interface on thermally oxidized samples which has an inelastic mean free path 35% less than that found in the bulk oxide. This is interpreted as being due to lattice mismatch resulting in a strained region which is structurally, but not stoichiometrically, distinct from the bulk oxide.

Vasquez, R. P.↗

Removal of ammonia from urine vapor by a dual-catalyst system

The feasibility of removing ammonia from urine vapor by a low-temperature dual-catalyst system has been demonstrated. The process is based on the catalytic oxidation of ammonia to a mixture of nitrogen, nitrous oxide, and water, followed by a catalytic decomposition of the nitrous oxide into its elements. Potential ammonia oxidation and nitrous oxide decomposition catalysts were first screened with artificial gas mixtures, then tested with the actual urine vapor produced by boiling untreated urine. A suitable dual-catalyst bed arrangement was found that achieved the removal of ammonia and also organic carbon, and recovered water of good quality from urine vapor.

Budininkas, P.↗

The origin and stability of lunar goethite, hematite and magnetite.

Extra-lunar contamination, fumarolic activity, and exposure to oxidizing gases from comet or carbonaceous meteorite impacts have been previously proposed as the causes of magnetite, hematite, and goethite in lunar materials. However, these minerals can occur in the stable low-temperature gas-solid equilibrium assemblages of lunar rocks. Below 600 C magnetite is in equilibrium with C-O-H gases with compositions compatible with high-temperature equilibrium with metallic iron; below 150 C hematite is stable in these same gases. Goethite is not stable in carbonaceous gases at low total pressure, and thus gases from impacting carbonaceous material cannot have produced it. Goethite is stable at low temperatures and pressures in almost pure H2-H2O gases. Its minimum stability against hematite is 2 bars total pressure at 130 C and 0.001 bars at 30 C for H2 to H2O ratios compatible with the high-temperature redox state of lunar materials. Thus the traces of magnetite, hematite, and goethite in lunar materials may be the result of normal low-temperature processes indigenous to the moon and not special processes.

Williams, R. J.↗

Some consequences of a liquid water saturated regolith in early Martian history

Flooding of low-lying areas of the Martian regolith may have occurred early in the planet's history when a comparatively dense primitive atmosphere existed. If this model is valid, the following are some pedogenic and mineralogical consequences to be expected. Fluctuation of the water table in response to any seasonal or longer term causes would have resulted in precipitation of ferric oxyhydroxides with the development of a vesicular duricrust (or hardpan). Disruption of such a crust by scarp undercutting or frost heaving accompanied by wind deflation of fines could account for the boulders visible on Utopia Planitia in the vicinity of the second Viking lander site. Laboratory and field evidence on earth suggests that under weakly oxidizing conditions lepidocrocite (rather than goethite) would have preferentially formed in the Martian regolith from the weathering of ferrous silicates, accompanied by montmorillonite, nontronite, and cronstedtite. Maghemite may have formed as a low-temperature dehydrate of lepidocrocite or directly from ferrous precursors.

Fuller, A. O.↗

The stability of armalcolite - Experimental studies in the system MgO-Fe-Ti-O

The stability of armalcolite at low pressures is considered, taking into account experiments which confirm the low-temperature breakdown of the mineral. Effects of Al2O3, Cr2O3, and Ti2O3 components on armalcolite stability are discussed with the stability of armalcolite at high pressure. Attention is also given to several reactions involving Fe-Mg-Ti oxides in Apollo 11 and 17 basalts.

Lindsley, D. H.↗

List of Commercial and Advanced Developmental Niobium-Based Alloys of the Space Age

This report compiles a list of commercial and developmental niobium-based alloys developed during the Space Age (late 1950s through mid-1970s) for extreme-temperature applications, including rocket engine thrust chambers, hypersonic re-entry thermal protection systems, and space fission reactor loops. Niobium (Nb) was widely pursued because it provided the lowest density (~8.6 g/cc) among the primary refractory metals, a high melting temperature (~2470°C), exceptional low-temperature ductility, good formability, and compatibility with liquid alkali metals. An evaluation of physical metallurgy mechanisms, focusing on solid-solution strengthening via heavy refractory solutes (W, Mo, Ta), dual-purpose reactive solutes (Hf, Zr, Ti), and dispersion strengthening using carbides, nitrides, and oxides is presented. Additionally, the report compares Western and Soviet Union metallurgical approaches, explaining how supply chain factors and manufacturing infrastructure influenced element selection, interstitial chemistry, and alloy identification/naming conventions. Cataloging these historical alloy chemical compositions serves as a foundational reference for modern alloy additive manufacturing, thermodynamic CALPHAD modeling, and machine-learning discovery pipelines for next-generation extreme-environment niobium-based alloys.

Physical Metallurgy↗

Coal desulfurization by low-temperature chlorinolysis

Among the three principal methods for precombustion desulfurization of coal, which include physical depyriting, chemical desulfurization, and coal conversion to low-sulfur liquid and gaseous fuels, the potential of chemical methods looks promising in terms of both total sulfur removal and processing cost. The principal chemical methods for coal desulfurization involve treatment with either oxidizing agents or basic media at elevated temperature and pressure. A description is given of some recent experimental results which show the feasibility of removing sulfur, particularly organic sulfur, from high-sulfur coals by a simple method of low-temperature chlorinolysis followed by hydrolysis and dechlorination. The chemical feasibility of sulfur removal by chlorinolysis rather than the detailed engineering process is emphasized.

Hsu, G. C.↗

Performance of a catalytic reactor at simulated gas turbine combustor operating conditions

The performance of a catalytic reactor 12 cm in diameter and 17 cm long was evaluated at simulated gas turbine combustor operating conditions using premixed propane and air. Inlet temperatures of 600 and 800 K, pressures of 3 and 6 atm, and reference velocities of 9 to 30 m/s were tested. Data were taken for equivalence ratios as high as 0.43. The operating range was limited on the low-temperature side by very poor efficiency; the minimum exit temperature for good performance ranged from 1400 to 1600 K depending on inlet conditions. As exit temperatures were raised above this minimum, emissions of unburned hydrocarbons decreased, carbon monoxide emissions became generally less than 1 g CO/kg fuel, and nitrogen oxides were less than about 0.1 g NO2/kg fuel.

Anderson, D. N.↗

Electrically-nonlinear composite material

Low-temperature sinter of semiconductor and polymer resin is useful in manufacture of circuit boards, cables, and electroexplosive devices. Material can absorb large amounts of heat and can withstand repeated exposures to electrostatic discharges with little deteriorating effects. These characteristics offer significant advantages over high-temperature-sintered, metal-oxide semiconducting materials.

Menichelli, V. J.↗

Synthesis of Perfluorinated Polymers

Long-chain perfluoropolyethers containing functional pendent groups were investigated as possible candidates for new sealants and elastomers that function in extreme environments. Of specific interest was development of materials exhibiting high thermal and oxidative stability at temperatures around 400 degrees C, low-temperature flexibility with glass transition at about 50 degrees C, and hydrolytic stability as well as compatibility with metals and resistance to fuels.

Rosser, R. W.↗