Development of a protective coating system for regeneratively cooled thrust chambers Final technical report, 1 Jul. 1967 - 31 Mar. 1969

Development of protective coating system for regeneratively cooled thrust chamber

Intermediate valence and Kondo effect in Ce_1−xSc_xAl₂

Results of lattice parameter, thermal expansion, thermopower and magnetic susceptibility measurements are reported for Ce1 − xScxAl2, a system exhibiting a solubility gap over a wide composition range. Two isostructural phases are identified within the gap. For the Sc-rich systems, both phases contain intermediate valent (IV) Ce ions, whereas in the Ce-rich systems (x < 0.5), a low-volume IV phase coexists with a high-volume phase containing Ce3+ ions. The temperature-induced overall valence change of the IV ions amounts to 15–20%. A factor-of-three increase of the spinfluctuation temperature is found upon increasing the Sc concentration from x = 0.5 to 0.95. For the Ce-rich systems, we have discovered a hitherto not known “Kondo anomaly” in the temperature dependence of the thermal expansivity

Nanostructured diblock copolymer films with embedded magnetic nanoparticles

Nanostructured diblock copolymer films with embedded magnetic nanoparticles are prepared by solution casting. The diblock copolymer polystyrene-block-polymethylmethacrylate with a fully deuterated polystyrene block of a weight ratio of 0.22 is used as a structure-directing matrix. Maghemite nanoparticles (gamma-Fe2O3) are coated with polystyrene and thus have a selective affinity to the minority block of the diblock copolymer. The hybrid film morphology is investigated as a function of nanoparticle concentration. The surface structure is probed with atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The inner film structure and the structure at the polymer-substrate interface are detected with grazing incidence small angle neutron scattering (GISANS). Irrespective of the nanoparticle concentration a well developed micro-phase separation structure is present. From the Bragg peaks observed in the GISANS data a linear nanoparticle concentration dependence of the inter-domain spacing of the micro-phase separation structure is determined. The superparamagnetic and blocking behavior can be explained with a generalized Stoner-Wohlfarth-Neel theory which includes either an elastic torque being exerted on the nanoparticles by the field or a broad distribution of anisotropy constants

Thin Films of Photoactive Polymer Blends

The morphology inside photoactive blended films of two conjugated homopolymers poly [(1-methoxy)-4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene-vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) is investigated. For both homopolymers a linear dependence of the installed film thickness from the concentration of the polymer solution used in spin coating is probed. This dependence allows preparation of an efficient series of blended films with constant thickness and different blending ratios. Information about the lateral structure inside the films is gained from grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering. At the calculated critical blending ratio the smallest lateral separation between adjacent domains is found representing the highest surface contact between both homopolymers in the films. The presence of wetting layers at both interfaces as detected with X-ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy is promising for photovoltaic applications. UV/Vis spectroscopy complements the structural investigation

In situ GISAXS investigation of gold sputtering onto a polymer template

Microphase-separation structures in mixed diblock-triblock copolymer thin films are used for the incorporation of gold atoms inside the polymer matrix via sputtering of gold. Polystyrene (PS) spheres are arranged in a liquidlike type with a well defined nearest neighbor distance inside a polyisoprene matrix acting as a template for directing the gold atoms. Sputtering conditions are selected with a very low sputtering rate to avoid clustering in the atmosphere so that gold reaches the polymer surface in its atomic state. Due to the mobility of the gold atoms and the selective interaction with the PS parts of the microphase separation structure, gold is accumulated inside the polymer film in the PS spheres, as probed in situ with grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). Nominally 4.3 A of gold is deposited, which by diffusion is spread out vertically over a thickness of 280 nm. UV-vis spectroscopy reveals a small blue shift for the gold sputtered polymer film. Atomic force microscopy proves the absence of gold clusters on the film surface. For low sputtering rate, GISAXS proves good sensitivity for gold migration inside the polymer film and opens new possibilities for studying polymer-metal interaction