Lunar dust simulant containing nanophase iron and method for making the same
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsChin-cheh Hung, Jeremiah McNatt
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Abstract
A lunar dust simulant containing nanophase iron and a method for making the same. Process (1) comprises a mixture of ferric chloride, fluorinated carbon powder, and glass beads, treating the mixture to produce nanophase iron, wherein the resulting lunar dust simulant contains α-iron nanoparticles, Fe2O3, and Fe3O4. Process (2) comprises a mixture of a material of mixed-metal oxides that contain iron and carbon black, treating the mixture to produce nanophase iron, wherein the resulting lunar dust simulant contains α-iron nanoparticles and Fe3O4.
Claims7
A method for making a lunar dust simulant containing nanophase iron, said method comprising:
- mixing ferric chloride, fluorinated carbon powder, and glass beads;
- and
- treating the mixture to produce nanophase iron, wherein the treatment comprises:
- heating the mixture at or between a temperature of 260° C. and 330° C. for approximately 1 hour in a nitrogen environment;
- oxidizing the mixture for approximately 50 hours in ambient air;
- and
- reducing the mixture at approximately 1050° C. for approximately 1.3 hours in a nitrogen environment;
- and
- wherein the resulting lunar dust simulant contains α-iron nanoparticles, Fe2O3, and Fe3O4.
A lunar dust simulant containing nanophase iron comprising:
- a mixture of ferric chloride, fluorinated carbon powder, and glass beads treated to produce nanophase iron by;
- heating the mixture in a nitrogen environment at or between a temperature of 260° C. and 330° C. for approximately 1 hour;
- oxidizing the mixture in ambient air for approximately 50 hours;
- and reducing the mixture in a nitrogen environment at approximately 1050° C. for approximately 1.3 hours;
- and
- wherein the resulting lunar dust simulant contains α-iron nanoparticles, Fe2O3, and Fe3O4.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.