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Electromagnetic levitation containerless processing of metallic materials in microgravity: thermophysical properties
M Mohr1,2, Y Dong3, G P Bracker4
1Institute of Functional Nanosystems, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. markus.mohr@dlr.de.
NPJ Microgravity
|May 2, 2023
Summary
Understanding liquid metallic alloys is key for industrial solidification. Containerless microgravity experiments, like those on the International Space Station, enable precise measurements of thermophysical properties for better material control.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Engineering
Background:
- Solidification of metallic alloys is vital for industry but challenging due to gravity's influence on melt properties.
- Accurate thermophysical data is essential for controlling solidification pathways and final material structure.
- High-temperature melt reactivity and the need for deep undercooling complicate ground-based measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail scientific questions regarding liquid metallic alloy solidification.
- To highlight recent achievements in containerless microgravity experiments.
- To provide an outlook on future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing containerless experiments in microgravity to overcome gravity-related limitations.
- Employing the International Space Station's electromagnetic levitator (ISS-EML) for precise measurements.
- Conducting experiments to achieve deep undercooling for nucleation and solidification studies.
Main Results:
- Obtained benchmark data for thermophysical properties of liquid metallic alloys.
- Enabled precise measurements unobtainable under terrestrial gravity.
- Facilitated studies on nucleation, crystal growth, and microstructural evolution.
Conclusions:
- Containerless microgravity experiments are crucial for accurate thermophysical property measurements.
- The ISS-EML provides ideal conditions for studying liquid-to-solid transitions.
- This research advances process simulations and fundamental understanding of alloy solidification.
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