Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems

Wei, G C; Robbins, J M

Title: Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems

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Abstract

A carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) insulation developed for a radioisotope heat source is made from chopped rayon fiber about 10 ..mu..m in diameter and 250 ..mu..m long, which is carbonized and bonded with phenolic resin particles. The CBCF is an excellent lightweight insulating material with a nominal density of 0.2 Mg/m/sup 3/ and a thermal conductivity of 0.24 W/(m-K) in vacuum at 2000/sup 0/C. Several attributes that make CBCF particularly suitable for the heat source application have been identified. These include light weight, low thermal conductivity, chemical compatibility, and high-temperature capabilities. The mechanical strength of CBCF insulation is satisfactory for the application. The basic fabrication technique was refined to eliminate undesirable large pores and cracks often present in materials fabricated by earlier techniques. Also, processing was scaled up to increase the fabrication rate by a factor of 10. The specific properties of the CBCF were tailored by adjusting material and processing variables to obtain the desired results. 22 references, 13 figures, 4 tables.

Authors:: Wei, G C; Robbins, J M

Publication Date:: Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985

Research Org.:: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN

OSTI Identifier:: 5778454

DOE Contract Number:: AC05-84OR21400

Resource Type:: Journal Article

Journal Name:: Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull.; (United States)

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 64:5

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES; THERMAL INSULATION; SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES; FABRICATION; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; CARBON; FIBERS; SPACE VEHICLES; THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; ELEMENTS; EQUIPMENT; HEAT SOURCES; NONMETALS; POWER SUPPLIES; VEHICLES; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; 070301* - Isotopic Power Supplies- Design & Fabrication- (-1987); 360603 - Materials- Properties

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                    Wei, G C, and Robbins, J M. Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems.  United States: N. p., 1985. 
        Web.

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                    Wei, G C, & Robbins, J M. Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems.  United States.

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                    Wei, G C, and Robbins, J M. 1985.  
        "Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems".  United States.

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@article{osti_5778454,

  title        = {Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems},

  author       = {Wei, G C and Robbins, J M},

  abstractNote = {A carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) insulation developed for a radioisotope heat source is made from chopped rayon fiber about 10 ..mu..m in diameter and 250 ..mu..m long, which is carbonized and bonded with phenolic resin particles. The CBCF is an excellent lightweight insulating material with a nominal density of 0.2 Mg/m/sup 3/ and a thermal conductivity of 0.24 W/(m-K) in vacuum at 2000/sup 0/C. Several attributes that make CBCF particularly suitable for the heat source application have been identified. These include light weight, low thermal conductivity, chemical compatibility, and high-temperature capabilities. The mechanical strength of CBCF insulation is satisfactory for the application. The basic fabrication technique was refined to eliminate undesirable large pores and cracks often present in materials fabricated by earlier techniques. Also, processing was scaled up to increase the fabrication rate by a factor of 10. The specific properties of the CBCF were tailored by adjusting material and processing variables to obtain the desired results. 22 references, 13 figures, 4 tables.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5778454},
  journal      = {Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull.; (United States)},
number       = ,

  volume       = 64:5,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985},

  month        = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985}

}

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Development and characterization of carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems

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Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems

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A carbon-bonded carbon fiber (CBCF) insulation developed for a radioisotope heat source is made from chopped rayon fiber about 10..mu..m long, which is carbonized and bonded with phenolic resin particles. The CBCF is an excellent lightweight insulating material with a nominal density of 0.2 Mg/m/sup 3/ and a thermal conductivity of 0.24 W/(m-K) in vacuum at 2000/sup 0/C. (Several attributes that make CBCF particularly suitable for the heat source application have been identified.) These include light weight, low thermal conductivity, chemical compatibility, and hightemperature capabilities. The mechanical strength of CBCF insulation is satisfactory for the application. The basic fabrication techniquemore »« less
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