Fundamental Investigation of Interactions and Behavior Between Phase Change Materials and Liquid Metals in Nano-Micro Scale Volumes

Abstract

This report results from a contract tasking Angstrom Aerospace Corporation as follows: This proposal offers to investigate in greater detail the properties between liquid metals and phase-change materials in nano-micro scale volumes on a fundamental level. Investigations of novel metal-alloy combinations and phase-change materials will be performed through three proposed phases, where the phases go from fundamental research to an experimental device. Properties of such as wetting, adhesion, surface deformation, tension, diffusion, in-stability (mixing) in the boundary interface will be studied. The research will focus on the properties between liquid metal-phase change materials where the melting point of the metal is below the phase change material. A common feature of long hydrocarbon chains (Paraffin and similar) is the distinct volume increase during the phase change from solid to liquid, 15% or more is not unusual. The volume expansion is hydraulic or incompressible to its nature. The metals to be tested are Low Melting Point alloys based on Bismuth/Tin/Indium compositions, but other alloys and even pure metals such as Mercury could beconsidered. The wetting properties between a thin-film of solid metal and the boundary layer created between the LMP and the phase change material will also be investigated.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 26, 2009
Accession Number
ADA523075

Entities

People

  • Fredrik C. Bruhn

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adhesion
  • Air Force
  • Alkanes
  • Base Metal
  • Boundaries
  • Controlled Atmospheres
  • Corrosion Resistance
  • Fabrication
  • Fluids
  • Formic Acid
  • Liquid Metals
  • Liquids
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Melting Point
  • Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Surface Tension

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Powder metallurgy of Titanium alloys.
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Space