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

Abstract

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 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.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, TN
OSTI Identifier:
6091431
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 64; Journal Issue: 5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; CARBON FIBERS; CHEMICAL PREPARATION; FABRICATION; RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES; THERMAL INSULATION; SPACE VEHICLES; THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS; CLADDING; CHEMICAL BONDS; PHENOLS; PLUTONIUM 238; RAYON; RESINS; ACTINIDE ISOTOPES; ACTINIDE NUCLEI; ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES; AROMATICS; CARBOHYDRATES; DEPOSITION; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI; FIBERS; HEAT SOURCES; HEAVY NUCLEI; HYDROXY COMPOUNDS; ISOTOPES; NUCLEI; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC POLYMERS; PETROCHEMICALS; PETROLEUM PRODUCTS; PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES; POLYMERS; POLYSACCHARIDES; RADIOISOTOPES; SACCHARIDES; SURFACE COATING; SYNTHESIS; VEHICLES; YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; 300303* - Thermoelectric Generators- Materials, Components, & Auxiliaries

Citation Formats

Wei, G C, and Robbins, J M. Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Wei, G C, & Robbins, J M. Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems. United States.
Wei, G C, and Robbins, J M. 1985. "Carbon-bonded carbon fiber insulation for radioisotope space power systems". United States.
@article{osti_6091431,
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 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 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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6091431}, journal = {Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull.; (United States)},
number = 5,
volume = 64,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985},
month = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985}
}