Accelerated Testing of High Temperature Permanent Magnets for Spacecraft Propulsion, Phase I

High temperature permanent magnet materials play an important role in NASA's space missions in electric propulsion, energy generation and storage and other applications. We propose to devise accelerated testing methods to test and predict the service life of SmCo based ultra high temperature permanent magnets in a high vacuum environment at high temperatures in excess of 400 degrees C. The proposed research will enable designers to appropriately design and use high temperature permanent magnets to optimize their performance. The proposed efforts will measure outgassing rates through total mass loss methods based on ASTM standards at temperatures from 300 to 700 degrees C at vacuum levels of 10 exp-5 Torr or higher. The microstructure and chemical composition variations at the near-interface region after exposure to high vacuum and high temperatures will be analyzed with scanning electron microscopy and auger electron spectroscopy or energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Magnetic properties will be measured and modeled with finite element analysis. These methods will enable prediction of reliability and performance of high temperature magnets over long space missions through short-term test methods.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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