Suggested Searches

 

Environmental Effects and Coatings

NASA researches aerospace materials for durability in extreme environments and provides testing services for external partners.

Overview
Capabilities
Contact
Videos
Projects
Publications

Overview

The Environmental Effects and Coatings team at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland assesses the environmental durability of high-performance aerospace materials and coatings to meet NASA, national, and U.S. industrial needs.

Our researchers use a variety of simple, quick, and cost-effective mechanisms to provide services to external companies and organizations. Interested organizations may contact us via phone or email.

Testing support for external organizations can be accomplished on a cost-effective and timely reimbursement basis, allowing test samples to be sent directly to NASA Glenn. After testing, the samples are returned, and the results obtained are held proprietary to the requesting organization.

Capabilities

Space Environment Testing

  • Atomic oxygen testing and material surface texturing
  • Vacuum bell jar for exposure to near-ultraviolet radiation
  • Lunar surface simulation and lunar dust mitigation testing
  • Mars atmosphere chemistry interaction testing
  • Low temperature soak and thermal cycling chamber with electronics performance evaluation
  • Materials International Space Station Experiments (MISSE)
A large cylindrical vacuum chamber with pipes, wires, and control panels in a metal frame, surrounded by instruments.
The atomic oxygen directed beam system is one of several vacuum chambers at NASA’s Glenn Research Center that is capable of exposing test articles to atomic oxygen to study degradation effects.
NASA
A vacuum chamber has a pipe exiting the chamber at a right angle, leading into a vacuum pump. Scientific instruments surround the chamber.
The Lunar Dust Adhesion Bell Jar (LDAB) simulates the lunar surface environment and provides dust mitigation testing. This high vacuum chamber is outfitted to electrically charge and deposit simulant, thermal cycle material samples, and expose samples to UV radiation and H/He plasma to simulate solar wind.
NASA
A cylindrical upright vacuum chamber has several ports and scientific instruments surrounding it.
The vacuum and near-ultraviolet exposure bell jar exposes samples to ultraviolet radiation to study their degradation.
NASA

Aeronautics Environment Testing

  • Atmospheric steam oxidation furnace: continuous cycling of samples in an isothermal steam environment; is flexible to gas mixtures and compositions
  • Thermal gradient testing and characterization
  • Mach 0.3 burner rig facility
    • Jet-fueled combustors used to subject aircraft engine and airframe materials to a simulated operating environment at atmospheric pressure
    • Simulates corrosion, erosion, and impact damage
  • Single Beacon Burner Rig
  • Natural Gas/Oxygen Burner Rig
    • Subjects advanced materials to the high-temperature, high-velocity combustion environment of gas turbine engines at atmospheric pressure
  • High heat flux laser lab: Suite of high-powered lasers used to subject advanced materials to a simulated thermal profile for aeronautics and space propulsion systems; can be used in conjunction with mechanical test frames to simulate thermo-mechanical behavior, and a vacuum chamber for space environments testing
  • CE-5 materials test section: a modular materials test leg in the CE-5 combustion test facility; is capable of testing materials and airfoils at 3,000°F+ combustion gas temperature capability, 300 psig+ pressure, and 40+ m/s velocity
A glowing rod directs heat toward a material test coupon.
The Erosion Burner Rig is used to evaluate the solid particle erosion resistance of ceramics, composites, alloys, and protective coatings up to approximately 1,316°C or 2,400°F.
NASA
An orange-glowing metal plate is heated by a blue torch flame.
The Natural Gas/Oxygen Burner Rig is used to assess the performance of advanced metal alloys, ceramics, composites, and protective coatings in a combustion environment.
NASA/Bridget Caswell
Close-up of a metal device causing a metal rod to heat and glow in a scientific setting.
The high heat flux laser lab consists of a suite of high-powered lasers used to subject advanced materials to a simulated thermal profile for aeronautics and space propulsion systems.
NASA

Materials Characterization and Modeling

  • Theoretical modeling and prediction of material properties via density functional theory, molecular dynamics, and machine learning
  • World-class mass spectrometry
    • Knudsen effusion mass spectrometers
    • High-pressure mass spectrometer (up to 2,000°C)
  • Thermogravimetry (TGA)
    • Operation up to 1,650°C in air or corrosive gases, and 3,000°C in vacuum
  • Differential Thermal Analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DTA / DSC)
    • Two simultaneous thermal analyzers capable of operating up to 1,650°C and 2,400°C
    • DSC capable of operating up to 1,650°C
  • Levitation calorimetry
    • Drop and catch (DnC) calorimeter capable of operating up 4,000°C
  • Oxide melt drop solution calorimetry
    • Isoperibol Tian-Calvet Twin calorimeter
A large metallic and blue painted laboratory instrument.
Modified Nuclide-type 12-HT-90 Knudsen effusion mass spectrometer.
NASA

Coatings Development

  • Coating deposition via sputtering, plasma spray, thermal spray, e-beam evaporation, and slurry coating methods
  • Development of thermal and environmental barrier coatings for extreme environments
  • Development of coatings for lunar dust mitigation
  • Development of coatings for protection against aerospace environmental degradation
A cylindrically shaped stainless steel vacuum chamber with its door open, showing instruments and wires on the exterior and interior.
Dual ion beam sputter coating deposition and erosion testing chamber.
NASA
Inside a large chamber, a bright multicolored plasma sprays onto a surface.
The plasma spray-physical vapor deposition facility / VaPER Facility uses a 6,000-10,000 K plasma to deposit coatings at high throughput (~0.5 m2 area, 10 µm layer in < 60 seconds). Its plasma environment simulates high speed or reentry conditions.
NASA

Contact

Area of ExpertiseNameEmail
Space Environments MaterialsSharon Millersharon.k.miller@nasa.gov
Aero Environments MaterialsBryan Harderbryan.harder@nasa.gov
Extreme Environments Testing CapabilitiesCraig Robinsonraymond.robinson-1@nasa.gov

Videos

Materials Science — A Building Block for the Future of Aerospace Technologies

NASA materials engineer Dr. Jamesa Stokes shares her path to pursuing a career in materials science and the discipline’s importance to the agency’s aeronautics and space exploration missions.

Intro to PS-PVD Processing for Improved Engine Performance

Bryan Harder at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland describes a process that NASA Aeronautics is developing to successfully deposit coatings on composite materials to be used as components for future aircraft engines that improve thermal efficiency and reduce fuel burn.

NASA Now: Materials Science: International Space Station Testing

The Materials International Space Station Experiment, or MISSE, provides NASA with a means to study the effects of long-term exposure to space on various materials, computer components, and electronic devices. The results of this research assist NASA scientists and engineers in designing future spacecraft.

Space Station Live: Materials Research on Station

NASA Public Affairs’ Lori Meggs interviews Kim de Groh, MISSE investigator, Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, and Miria Finckenor, MISSE investigator, Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The MISSE, or Materials International Space Station Experiment, has studied the way materials behave in microgravity since 2001. Hundreds of scientists and engineers have had materials fly as part of MISSE. This segment aired during Space Station Live on July 30, 2014.

Projects supported by this research:

Materials International Space Station Experiment

The Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) is a series of spaceflight missions with experiments flown on the exterior of the International Space Station to test the performance and durability of materials and devices exposed to the low-Earth orbit space environment.

Learn More about Materials International Space Station Experiment
An open MISSE container showing the various exposure samples
An open Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) container showing the various exposure samples.
NASA

Key Publications

Publication TitleAuthor(s)SourceTypeYear
A Dynamic Testing Approach for Particulate Erosion-Corrosion for Gas Turbine CoatingsStokes, Jamesa L. and Presby, Michael J.ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and PowerJournal Publication2024
Expanding the Capability of a Legacy Combustion Flame Tube to Test High-Temperature Engine Materials in Relevant EnvironmentsB. J. Harder, C. W. Liebfried, T. R. Luginbuhl, A. D. Smith, A. R. Stalker, and M. J. Presby,Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, vol. 147, no. 031016Journal Publication2024
Theoretical Prediction of Thermal Expansion Anisotropy for Y2Si2O7 Environmental Barrier Coatings Using a Deep Neural Network Potential and Comparison to ExperimentC. J. Bodenschatz, W. A. Saidi, J. L. Stokes, R. I. Webster, and G. CostaMaterials, vol. 17, no. 2, Art. no. 2Journal Publication2024
Expanding the Capability of a Legacy Combustion Flame Tube to Test High-Temperature Engine Materials in Relevant EnvironmentsB. J. Harder, C. W. Liebfried, T. R. Luginbuhl, A. D. Smith, A. R. Stalker, and M. J. PresbyJournal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, vol. 147, no. 031016Journal Publication2024
Solid particle erosion in ceramic matrix composites and environmental barrier coatings: A perspectiveMichael J. Presby, Jamesa L. Stokes, Bryan J. HarderJournal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 107, no. 3, pp. 1776–1792, 2024Journal Publication2024
The Development and Use of a Natural Gas/Oxygen Burner Rig for Environmental Barrier Coating and Ceramic Matrix Composite Technology MaturationMichael J. Presby, Makoto Endo, Dennis S. Fox, Bryan J. Harder, Kang N. Lee, Leland C. Hoffman, Michael D. CuyJournal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, vol. 146, no. 011012Journal Publication2023
Spacecraft Polymers Atomic Oxygen Durability Handbookde Groh, Kim K., Banks, Bruce A. and McCarthy, Catherine E.NTSS NASA Office of the Chief Engineer, NASA Technical Handbook (NASA-HDBK-6024 w/CHANGE 2, Revalidated: 2022-12-16)NASA Technical Standards Handbook2022
Natural Gas/Oxygen Burner Rig at The NASA Glenn Materials Research LaboratoryDennis S. Fox, Michael J. Presby, Thomas M. Tomsik, Stephen L. McHargue, David. G. Meigs, Matthew. J. Shelton, Robert A. Miller, and Maria A. KuczmarskiNTRSNASA TM2022
Development of oxide-based High temperature environmental barrier coatings for ceramic matrix composites via the slurry processKang N. Lee, Deborah L. Waters, Bernadette J. Puleo, Anita Garg, Wayne D. Jennings, Gustavo Costa, Dagny E. SackstederJournal of the European Ceramic Society, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 1639–1653Journal Publication2021
Atomic Oxygen Erosion Data from the MISSE 2-8 Missionsde Groh, Kim K. and Banks, Bruce A.NASA/TM-2019-219982Technical Memorandum2019
Mach 0.3 Burner Rig Facility at the NASA Glenn Materials Research LaboratoryFox, Dennis S. and Miller, Robert A. and Zhu, Dongming and Perez, Michael and Cuy, Michael D. and Robinson, R. Craig.NASA/TM—2011-216986Technical Memorandum2011
Prediction of Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield for Spacecraft PolymersBanks, B. A., Backus, J. A., Manno, M. V., Waters, D. L., Cameron, K. C. and de Groh, K. K.Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 48, No. 1, January-February 2011, pp.14-22.Journal Publication2011
Measuring Thermodynamic Properties of Metals and Alloys with Knudsen Effusion Mass SpectrometryEvan Copeland, Nathan JacobsonNTRSNASA TM2010