Advanced materials for space nuclear power systems

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5419844

Titran, R H; Grobstein, T L ^[1]; Ellis, D L ^[2]

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1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center
2. Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)

Research on monolithic refractory metal alloys and on metal matrix composites is being conducted at the NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, in support of advanced space power systems. The overall philosophy of the research is to develop and characterize new high-temperature power conversion and radiator materials and to provide spacecraft designers with material selection options and design information. Research on three candidate materials (carbide strengthened niobium alloy PWC-11 for fuel cladding, graphite fiber reinforced copper matrix composites (Gr/Cu) for heat rejection fins, and tungsten fiber reinforced niobium matrix composites (W/NB) for fuel containment and structural supports) considered for space power system applications is discussed. Each of these types of materials offers unique advantages for space power applications.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (United States). Lewis Research Center; Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AI03-86SF16310
• OSTI ID: 5419844
• Report Number(s): DOE/NASA/16310-16; NASA-TM-105171; AIAA-91-3530; CONF-9109226-9; ON: DE91017799
• Resource Relation: Conference: AIAA/NASA/OAI conference on advanced SEI technologies, Cleveland, OH (United States), 3-4 Sep 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
COPPER
THERMAL EXPANSION
GRAPHITE
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
CREEP
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
FIBERS
REFRACTORY METALS
REINFORCED MATERIALS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
TUNGSTEN
ALLOYS
CARBON
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
EXPANSION
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NONMETALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER REACTORS
POWER SUPPLIES
REACTORS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600* - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
360103 - Metals & Alloys- Mechanical Properties
360603 - Materials- Properties