AMTEC material studies

Texas A&M University, in conjunction with Advanced Modular Power Systems, is performing a series of material studies on key components of an alkali metal thermal to electric conversion (AMTEC) cell for the NASA outer planets power system program. These studies involve SEM, x-ray mapping, EDS, and WDS analysis of AMTEC components from unexposed (as built) samples, from sodium exposure tests, and from operating cells, specifically PX-4C and PX-5B run at the Air Force Research Lab’s Phillips Research Site. Findings are still prelimary, but indicate that recrystallization regions seen in the oven samples are an artifact of excess sodium and oxygen levels in those tests, more potassium is present than expected, and that diffusion bonding between the current collector and electrode takes place.