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Title: Isotec final report

Abstract

General Atomic (GA) developed processes to prepare NdSe/sub 1.5-x/. The partial pressure of Se/sub 2/ above the NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ was found to be a function of x. The thermoelectric properties and the friability of the hot pressed element were also a function of x. Process modification changed the value of x, providing a method to control the properties of N-type NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ elements. A method of joining NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ to a nickel hot cap was developed using a gold foil intermediate. NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ was diffusion-bonded to PbTe by the same process developed for Gd/sub 2/Se/sub 3/. Couples were fabricated from (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se/Fe/(Bi,Sb)/sub 2/Te/sub 3/ and NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ PbTe elements. Limited couple test data were obtained. General Atomic examined methods to develop high-efficiency couples made from segmented elements containing (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se P-type material and NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ N-type material. Techniques were developed to reproducibly prepare and hot press (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se segments and elements with a metallurgically joined MoRe hot cap. This hot cap and a W-26/Re wire mesh used to make the hot cap junction were found to be stable in contact with (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se at 750/sup 0/C. Stability of (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se to current flow in a thermal gradient was examined. Thismore » report describes specifications for vapor suppression to improve the stability of P-type (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se in thermal gradient life tests and presents life test information on match-loaded (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se and (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se/Fe/(Bi,Sb)/sub 2/Te/sub 3/ elements.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
5437033
Report Number(s):
GA-A-16584
ON: DE82015077; TRN: 82-013511
DOE Contract Number:  
AT03-76ET33004
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; ANTIMONY TELLURIDES; FABRICATION; THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES; BISMUTH TELLURIDES; COPPER SELENIDES; NEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS; SELENIDES; SILVER SELENIDES; THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS; ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY; ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES; HOT PRESSING; LEAD TELLURIDES; N-TYPE CONDUCTORS; P-TYPE CONDUCTORS; PERFORMANCE TESTING; RADIOISOTOPE HEAT SOURCES; SERVICE LIFE; STABILITY; TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS; THERMOCOUPLES; ANTIMONY COMPOUNDS; BISMUTH COMPOUNDS; CHALCOGENIDES; COPPER COMPOUNDS; DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS; HEAT SOURCES; LEAD COMPOUNDS; MATERIALS; MATERIALS WORKING; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PRESSING; RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS; SELENIUM COMPOUNDS; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; SILVER COMPOUNDS; TELLURIDES; TELLURIUM COMPOUNDS; TESTING; TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems; 300303* - Thermoelectric Generators- Materials, Components, & Auxiliaries; 360601 - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture; 070301 - Isotopic Power Supplies- Design & Fabrication- (-1987)

Citation Formats

Elsner, N B, Chin, J, Reynolds, G H, Norman, J H, Bass, J C, and Staley, H G. Isotec final report. United States: N. p., 1981. Web. doi:10.2172/5437033.
Elsner, N B, Chin, J, Reynolds, G H, Norman, J H, Bass, J C, & Staley, H G. Isotec final report. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5437033
Elsner, N B, Chin, J, Reynolds, G H, Norman, J H, Bass, J C, and Staley, H G. 1981. "Isotec final report". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/5437033. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5437033.
@article{osti_5437033,
title = {Isotec final report},
author = {Elsner, N B and Chin, J and Reynolds, G H and Norman, J H and Bass, J C and Staley, H G},
abstractNote = {General Atomic (GA) developed processes to prepare NdSe/sub 1.5-x/. The partial pressure of Se/sub 2/ above the NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ was found to be a function of x. The thermoelectric properties and the friability of the hot pressed element were also a function of x. Process modification changed the value of x, providing a method to control the properties of N-type NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ elements. A method of joining NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ to a nickel hot cap was developed using a gold foil intermediate. NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ was diffusion-bonded to PbTe by the same process developed for Gd/sub 2/Se/sub 3/. Couples were fabricated from (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se/Fe/(Bi,Sb)/sub 2/Te/sub 3/ and NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ PbTe elements. Limited couple test data were obtained. General Atomic examined methods to develop high-efficiency couples made from segmented elements containing (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se P-type material and NdSe/sub 1.5-x/ N-type material. Techniques were developed to reproducibly prepare and hot press (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se segments and elements with a metallurgically joined MoRe hot cap. This hot cap and a W-26/Re wire mesh used to make the hot cap junction were found to be stable in contact with (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se at 750/sup 0/C. Stability of (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se to current flow in a thermal gradient was examined. This report describes specifications for vapor suppression to improve the stability of P-type (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se in thermal gradient life tests and presents life test information on match-loaded (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se and (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se/Fe/(Bi,Sb)/sub 2/Te/sub 3/ elements.},
doi = {10.2172/5437033},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5437033}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1981},
month = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1981}
}