Yoshiaki Echigo

Polyimide Foams for Aerospace Vehicles

Due to a demand by the aerospace industry, NASA has begun developing the next generation of polyimide foams which could be utilized to reduce vehicle weight for the X-33 and Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) programmes. The activity at NASA Langley Research Center focuses on developing polyimide foam and foam structures which are made using monomeric solutions or salt solutions formed from the reaction of a dianhydride and diamine dissolved in a mixture of foaming agents and alkyl alcohols. This process can produce polyimide foams with varying properties from a large number of monomers and monomer blends. The specific densities of these foams can range from 0.008 g cc−1 to 0.32 g cc−1. Polyimide foams at densities of 0.032 g cc−1 and 0.08 g cc−1 were tested for a wide range of physical properties. The foams demonstrated excellent thermal stability at 321°C, a good thermal conductivity at 25°C of 0.03 W m−1 K−1, compressive strengths as high as 0.84 MPa at 10% deflection and a limiting oxygen index of 51%. Thermomechanical cyclic testing was also performed on these materials for 50 cycles at temperatures from −253°C to 204°C. The foams survived the cyclic testing without debonding or cracking. Thermal forming of the 0.032 g cc−1 foam was performed and a minimum radius curvature of 0.0711 m was achieved. The foams exhibited excellent properties overall and are shown to be viable for use as cryogenic insulation on the next generation RLV.

Spherical ion exchange resin having matrix-bound metal hydroxide, method for producing the same and method for adsorption treatment using the same

A spherical ion exchange resin composed of a phenolic resin and a metal hydroxide is disclosed. The metal hydroxide is enclosed and bound with the phenolic resin. A method for producing such an ion exchange resin and a method for selectively adsorbing ions using the same is also disclosed. The ion exchange resin is capable of efficiently recovering ions contained or dissolved in water in trace amounts and, hence, can be applied to any aqueous solution containing ions. For example, it can be used to recover useful substances from sea water and to purify waste waters from nonferrous refineries and nuclear power plants.

Phenolic chelate resin, process for producing the same, and method of recovering heavy metal ions with the same

The phenolic chelate resin has a chelate-forming group wherein part or all of the hydrogen atoms in a primary and/or secondary alkylamino group introduced in a phenol nucleus are replaced by a methylenephosphonate group. Also disclosed is a process for producing such a chelate resin, and a method for recovering heavy metal ions with such a resin. The resin has particularly high selectivity for adsorbing uranium ions, as well as high heat, acid and alkali resistance as well as dimensional stability. The resin is very effective for recovering uranium from various uranium-containing solutions such as sea water, crude phosphoric acid fertilizer solutions, lowgrade uranium ore, waste water from uranium refining, and uranium mine water.

Ion rechargeable batteries using synthetic organic polymers

Abstract We have newly developed multi-porous sheets fabricated from chemically polymerized polyaniline which are applicable for positive electrodes of ion rechargeable batteries. We have also developed novel multi-porous sheets for negative electrodes made of carbon material which are derived from synthetic organic polymer. Both sheets fabricated to have an area of maximum 1000cm 2 and thickness of 0.3∼3.0mm are reinforced by synthetic short fiber. Because of fiber-reinforcement, these sheets show excellent mechanical properties and easy handling in spite of their high porosity. The polyaniline positive electrodes have been combined with the carbon negative electrodes to produce high energy density cells having excellent cycle life and a high working voltage. Preliminary prototype CR 2016 cells made of these electrodes in welded steel can have demonstrated up to 17 mWh/cell.