A REPAIR COATING FOR CRYOGENIC TRANSFER LINES

LEAKS IN CRYOGENIC TRANSFER LINES CAUSE LOSS OF VACUUM INSULATING PROPERTIES. OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS DICTATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REPAIR PROCESS IN PLACE. COMPONENT MATERIALS AND OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS IMPOSE SEVERE IMPEDIMENTS TO ADHESIVE MECHANISMS FOR REPAIR MATERIALS. A CERAMIC COATING IS PROPOSED AS A REPAIR MATERIAL. IN-PLACE FORMATION WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH SOL-GEL PROCESSING. ADHESION IS OBTAINED THROUGH MECHANICAL FORCES AND STRONG CHEMICAL BOND FORMATION. CERAMIC PROPERTIES WILL BE TAILORED THROUGH SELECTIVE USE OF ALKOXIDE PRECURSORS TO MATCH SUBSTRATE PROPERTIES AND OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS. A CERAMIC PATCH COATING WILL BE FORMULATED. TAILORABILITY OF CERAMIC PROPERTIES TO SUBSTRATE PROPERTIES WILL BE DEMONSTRATED. ADHERENCE OF COATING TO SUBSTRATE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL CYCLING WILL BE INVESTIGATED. THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR IS A POLYMER CHEMIST WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. PROGRAM WILL BE AIDED BY ASSOCIATION WITH NATIONAL LABORATORY AND UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS IN SOL-GEL CERAMICS.