Soft Magnetic Nanocomposite for High-Temperature Applications

Sometimes called white graphite, affordable and plentiful hBN possesses the same kind of layered molecular structure as graphite. In graphite, this structure has allowed next-generation nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes and graphene to be produced. With hBN, however, the process of converting the substance into boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) has been too difficult to yield commercial quantities. Glenn innovators have created several new methods that could enable greater adoption of this unique nanomaterial. In the initial stage, the starter reactant is mixed with a selected set of chemicals (a metal chloride, for example) and an activation agent (such as sodium fluoride). This mixture causes hBN to become less resistant to intercalation. The intercalated product can then be exfoliated by heating the material in air, and giving the material a final rinse with a liquid-phase ferric chloride salt to dissolve any embedded impurities without damaging its internal structure. These efficiently exfoliated nanomaterials can be used to form advanced composite materials (e.g., layered with aluminum oxide to form hBN/alumina ceramic composites). Nanomaterials fabricated from hBN can also take advantage of the material's unique combination of being an electrical insulator with high thermal conductivity for applications ranging from microelectronics to energy harvesting. Glenn's innovations have enabled a significantly improved matrix composite material with the potential to make a significant impact on the commercial materials market.

Originally developed as a flexible thermal protection system (FTPS), this BNNT mat was designed to shield a 40-ton craft from the high aerothermal flux of atmospheric entry, descent, and landing. The novel lightweight flexible BNNT mat is an excellent flame retardant material and has shown excellent thermal stability and shielding capabilities under a hypersonic thermal flux test in air. The novel BNNT mat or fabric creates an in-situ passivation layer under high thermal flux which minimizes penetration of the atmosphere (air or gas) as well as heat and radiation through the thickness. BNNT effectively diffuses heat throughout the mat or fabric laterally and radially to minimize localized excessive heat. In addition, the lightweight flexible BNNT mat can efficiently alleviate the heat via radiation because of its high thermal emissivity. This invention offers a lightweight, simple, single layer BNNT FTPS with better thermal protection and flame retardation performance in extreme environments while providing structural robustness. The novel BNNT materials can also serve as flame retardants and flame retardant additives in composite systems that are also potentially more colorable compared to carbon nanotube additives.

This technology was developed to address the limitations of traditional, single-fed linear alternators, which require permanent magnets, adhesive bonding organics, and heavy iron laminations for flux control. They experience eddy-current losses and require electromagnetic interference protection. Furthermore, they have a limited operational temperature range (only up to 250°C), which typically declines to below 200°C as the adhesive bonding organics outgas and degrade over time. Consequently, they are limited to approximately 93% efficiency at ambient temperatures. Glenn's novel linear alternator addresses all of the limitations of its predecessors and engenders a number of desirable new qualities - notably the ability to reduce eddy-current losses by 25% and operate at 99% efficiency at temperatures up to 950°C. It features a concentric, additively manufactured monolithic copper plunger and stator. The stator is a stationary single copper Halbach array, whereas the plunger is a moving electromagnetic copper Halbach array. A direct current is delivered through the conductive piston flexure support, which also provides reactive power for resonance. It creates a fixed magnetic field similar to that of a permanent magnet, but the magnetic field is channeled inward by the Halbach mover, doubling its strength. By utilizing standard double-fed induction control methods, the reactive power can be transferred and adjusted between both coils. This maximizes system efficiency and minimizes weight. This innovative technology will enable a new class of vastly superior linear alternators with the ability to operate at extreme temperatures with increased performance and efficiency. This is an early-stage technology requiring additional development. Glenn welcomes co-development opportunities.

Solid state power conversion devices, such as thermoelectrics, depend upon temperature gradients for their operation. For example, aeronautic gas turbine engines maintain the necessary temperature gradients throughout their systems due to the enthalpic processes of combustion, which offers the possibility of generating electrical power for use in primary and secondary electrical systems in the aircraft. However, until now thermoelectric materials have not been able to withstand the combination of high temperatures and oxidative environments present in gas turbine engines. Glenn's innovation overcomes these limitations by using a doped oxide pyrochlore (crystal compound) semiconductor as the thermoelectric material. The material has a low thermal conductivity, which allows it to maintain a thermal gradient and sufficient electrical conductivity to produce an electromotive force. The pyrochlore allows the thermoelectric material to be present within a gas turbine engine, converting heat directly into electricity and functioning at high temperatures without oxidizing in air. Glenn's innovative thermoelectric material permits the benefits of solid-state power conversion devices to improve fuel efficiencies for a broader range of applications than has ever been possible. This innovation is in the early stages of development, and Glenn welcomes opportunities for co-development.

Aimed at structural applications up to 2700°F, NASA's patented technologies start with two types of high-strength SiC fibers that significantly enhance the thermo-structural performance of the commercially available boron-doped and sintered small-diameter “Sylramic” SiC fiber. These enhancement processes can be done on single fibers, multi-fiber tows, or component-shaped architectural preforms without any loss in fiber strength. The processes not only enhance every fiber in the preforms and relieve their weaving stresses, but also allow the preforms to be made into more shapes. Environmental resistance is also enhanced during processing by the production of a protective in-situ grown boron-nitride (iBN) coating on the fibers. Thus the two types of converted fibers are called “Sylramic-iBN” and “Super Sylramic-iBN”. For high CMC toughness, two separate chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) steps are used, one to apply a boron nitride coating on the fibers of the preform and the other to form the SiC-based matrix. The preforms are then heat treated not only to densify and shrink the CVI BN coating away from the SiC matrix (outside debonding), but also to increase its creep resistance, temperature capability, and thermal conductivity. One crucial advantage in this suite of technologies lies in its unprecedented customizability. The SiC/SiC CMC can be tailored to specific conditions by down-selecting the optimum fiber, fiber coating, fiber architecture, and matrix materials and processes. In any formulation, though, the NASA-processed SiC fibers display high tensile strength and the best creep-rupture resistance of any commercial SiC fiber, with strength retention to over 2700°F.