Evaluation of Candidate Magnetohydrodynamic Materials for the U-02Phase III Test.

摘要

As part of a cooperative U.S.--U.S.S.R. program,electrode and insulator materials tested at the Westinghouse Electrode Systems Test Facility in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania,were evaluated. From this evaluation materials will be selected for use in the third phase of tests being conducted in the U-02magnetohydrodynamics test facility in the Soviet Union. Electrode and insulator materials were examined with both an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The cathodes were found to behave differently from the anodes;most notably,the cathodes showed greater potassium interaction. The lanthanum chromite-based electrodes (excluding those fabricated by plasma-spraying) are recommended for testing in the U-02Phase III test. Hotpressed,fused-grained MgO and sintered MgAl sub 2 O sub 4are recommended as insulator materials. The electrode attachment techniques used in the Westinghouse Tests were inadequate and need to be modified for the U-02test. (ERA citation 04:038971)