Laboratory Study of the Thermochemical Properties of Materials Used in Spacecraft

Abstract

A high temperature mass spectrometer used to obtain laboratory data on the thermochemical properties of materials encountered in space research is described in detail. The experimental procedures and data analysis necessary to obtain thermochemical constants from the mass spectrometer data are also described. The present experimental arrangement allows cell temperatures of up to 2100 K. Reliable measurements at signal levels below 10 ion counts/s can be made because of the very low background signal and the entirely automated data acquisition and averaging system. In preliminary studies of osmium and its oxides, it is shown that the choice of molybdenum as the cell material is detrimental. The use of an alumina Knudsen cell is proposed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 04, 1990
Accession Number
ADA232124

Entities

People

  • Edmond Murad
  • Lyn R. Watson
  • Rainer A. Dressler
  • Richard H. Salter
  • Terry L. Thiem

Organizations

  • Air Force Systems Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Chemical Properties
  • Data Acquisition
  • Detectors
  • Electron Energy
  • High Temperature
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Mass Spectra
  • Mass Spectrometers
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Metals
  • Spacecraft
  • Spectrometers
  • Spectrometry
  • Thermodynamics

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics.
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster