Wick materials by sol-gel processing
- Code 6312 and Code 8221 Naval Research Laboratory 4555 Overlook Ave. Washington, District of Columbia 20375 (United States)
In capillary pumped loops (CPL) devices, the fine porous wick, located in the evaporator, provides the means for passively pumping the fluid through the system, using surface tension forces exerted onto a liquid in a small diameter pore at the liquid/vapor interface. The Naval Research Laboratory's Materials Science and technology Division and Naval Center for Space Technology have been investigating the use of sol-gel processing for development of organically modified ceramic wicks with micron or submicron pores, high porosity, low thermal conductivity and structural flexibility. Gels with average pore sizes as small as 0.5 {mu}m, 30-80% continuous porosity, some flexibility and thermal stability to at least 473K were successfully prepared. Microstructures of these hybrids were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and some conventional wick property testing were performed.
- OSTI ID:
- 21165740
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 387, Issue 1; Conference: STAIF-97: Space technology and applications international forum, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 26-30 Jan 1997; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.52053; (c) 1997 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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