Transcript The Effect of Microgravity on the Oxidation of Iron

The Effect of Microgravity on
the Oxidation of Iron Exposed
to a Saltwater Solution
Griffin Eslinger and Alexander Puckhaber
Palmetto Scholars Academy
North Charleston, SC
Description of Experiment
Our experiment will compare the structural
integrity of an iron bar oxidized in the presence of
saltwater in microgravity to an iron bar oxidized in
the presence and absence of saltwater on Earth.
Hypothesis
We predict that the iron bar oxidized in
microgravity will be weaker than the iron bar
oxidized on Earth. Without gravity, the surface
tension of the salt water will be
stronger. Stronger surface
tension in microgravity might
make the oxidation process
happen at a faster pace.
Materials
Experiment Materials
1. Type Two FME (Fluid Mixture Enclosure)
2. 3.5% salt water solution
3. Iron tensile testing bar (9.5mm by 75mm by 2mm)
Testing Materials
1. Scanning electron microscope
2. Tensile testing machine
The FME
We are using a Type 2 FME for our experiment.
Here is a model of our setup.
Experimental Setup
We will be conducting four treatments for this experiment.
1) The space-based experiment has water in the Type 2
FME container in microgravity.
2) The same setup will be used but in a lab (classroom) on
Earth. It has saltwater and the Type 2 FME container.
3) The same setup will be implemented without the
saltwater. It will just have the bar in a Type 2 FME. This
will test for any corrosive effects of the actual FME on
the iron testing bar. It will also give a baseline of
corrosion under "normal" conditions within a contained
environment.
4) The same as #2, but kept in the open, to see what
corrosion might happen in an open environment.
Experiment Timeline & Observations
On the day that the experiment arrives on the space station, one of
the astronauts will release the clamp on the Type 2 FME. The salt
water solution will make contact with the bar, and the oxidation
process will begin.
When we get the FME back, we will
examine the iron bar. The iron bar will
be pulled apart by a tensile testing
machine to test its structural integrity
and scanned with a scanning electron
microscope to look for
any changes in the
crystal structure.
Why this Experiment is Important
If we find that the iron bar oxidized in microgravity
is significantly weaker than the iron bar oxidized
on Earth, our findings could impact how engineers
design space missions.
Many pressurized spacecraft are built with iron
alloys. There would most likely be oxygen and
water on the inside. If rust in microgravity causes
iron to become weaker than expected, there might
be a high potential for catastrophic failures.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the Partners and Sponsors who
made this experiment possible:
Partners
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Space and Naval Warfare
Systems Command
(SPAWAR)
Center for the Advancement of
Science in Space (CASIS)
National Center for Earth and
Space Science Education
College of Charleston
Medical University of South
Carolina (MUSC)
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)
Sponsors
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ISHPI
CASIS
Palmetto Scholars
Academy Board
Members
Palmetto Scholars
Academy Families
Questions?