NASA Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports

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NONMETALLIC MATERIALS
Includes physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of plastics, elastomers, lubricants, polymers, textiles, adhesives, and ceramic
materials. For composite materials see 24 Composite Materials.
20040068292 Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Nickel Plating: Industry Practices Control Technology and Environmental Management
Apr. 2003; 44 pp.; In English
Report No.(s): PB2004-105477; EPA/625/R-03/005; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy
This capsule report, entitled ‘Nickel Plating: Industry Practices, Control Technologies, and Environmental Management,’
was prepared under the direction of EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) to assist the metal finishing community
with the management of nickel plating environmental issues. Information provided by the capsule report provides the rationale
for developing the document, identifies the intended user audience, and presents the framework for the evaluating nickel
plating management practices from case studies that incorporate cost-effective solutions to solving persistent nickel plating
problem. The capsule report provides a current analysis of the nickel plating industry from a technical, economic, and
regulatory perspective. This capsule report includes five major recommendations. The first recommendation is for facilities to
continue the conduct of environmental audits and pollution prevention opportunity assessments.
NTIS
Environment Management; Environment Pollution
20040070787 NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
Atomic Oxygen Durability Evaluation of a UV Curable Ceramer Protective Coating
Banks, Bruce A.; Karniotis, Christina A.; Dworak, David; Soucek, Mark; April 2004; 27 pp.; In English; Seventh
International Conference Protection of Materials and Structures from Space Environment, 10-13 May 2004, Toronto, Canada
Contract(s)/Grant(s): WBS 22-319-20-E1
Report No.(s): NASA/TM-2004-213098; E-14573; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy
The exposure of most silicones to atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit (LEO) results in the oxidative loss of methyl groups
with a gradual conversion to oxides of silicon. Typically there is surface shrinkage of oxidized silicone protective coatings
which leads to cracking of the partially oxidized brittle surface. Such cracks widen and branch crack with continued atomic
oxygen exposure ultimately allowing atomic oxygen to reach any hydrocarbon polymers under the silicone coating. A need
exists for a paintable silicone coating that is free from such surface cracking and can be effectively used for protection of
polymers and composites in LEO. A new type of silicone based protective coating holding such potential was evaluated for
atomic oxygen durability in an RF atomic oxygen plasma exposure facility. The coating consisted of a UV curable
inorganic/organic hybrid coating, known as a ceramer, which was fabricated using a methyl substituted polysiloxane binder
and nanophase silicon-oxo-clusters derived from sol-gel precursors. The polysiloxane was functionalized with a cycloaliphatic
epoxide in order to be cured at ambient temperature via a cationic UV induced curing mechanism. Alkoxy silane groups were
also grafted onto the polysiloxane chain, through hydrosilation, in order to form a network with the incorporated
silicon-oxo-clusters. The prepared polymer was characterized by H-1 and Si-29 NMR, FT-IR, and electrospray ionization mass
spectroscopy. The paper will present the results of atomic oxygen protection ability of thin ceramer coatings on Kapton H as
evaluated over a range of atomic oxygen fluence levels.
Author
Protective Coatings; Ultraviolet Radiation; Durability; Ceramics; Oxygen Atoms; Curing; Fabrication
20040070985 National Inst. of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
Preliminary Concept Trial of the Semi-Automated Paint Containment System
Norcross, R. J.; Nov. 2002; 26 pp.; In English
Report No.(s): PB2004-105014; NISTIR-7095; No Copyright; Avail: CASI; A03, Hardcopy
The Carderock Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC-CD) is developing the Automated Paint
Application, Containment, and Treatment System (APACTS) to apply anti-corrosive and anti-fouling paints in an
environmentally sound manner, NSWC-CD commissioned the Intelligent Systems Division of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) to construct a concept prototype of a Semi-Automated Paint Containment System
(SAPACS) utilizes a portion of the APACTS technologies to provide an intermediary system that can reduce shipyard
hazardous material emissions with less capital investment. NIST assembled SAPACS from an existing Coordinated Aerial
Work Platform (CAWP) and an existing lift capable environmental tank (E-Tank). NIST modified the E-Tank to detect the
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