TEMPUS-A microgravity electromagnetic levitation facility for parabolic flights

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Physics
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• Studying thermophysical properties and microstructure formation of reactive melts is challenging due to gravity-induced convection and contamination.
• Electromagnetic levitation (EML) offers contactless handling but is affected by strong levitation forces on Earth.
• Parabolic flights provide short-duration microgravity, reducing these disturbing forces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the TEMPUS (Temperature and Materials Properties Under Space conditions) facility for contactless melt investigations.
• To demonstrate the advantages of combining microgravity, EML, and contactless measurements for studying melts.
• To present experimental planning, operation, and data recording within parabolic flight campaigns.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the TEMPUS electromagnetic levitation facility aboard an aircraft during parabolic flights (∼22 s free fall).
• Employing contactless handling and measurement techniques to avoid sample contamination.
• Leveraging reduced gravity to minimize electromagnetic levitation forces.

Main Results:

• Successful investigation of thermophysical properties and microstructure formation of hot, reactive metal/semiconductor melts.
• Extended sample temperature range into the undercooled liquid state.
• Demonstrated significant advantages of microgravity-assisted EML for melt studies.

Conclusions:

• The TEMPUS facility effectively enables contactless, undisturbed studies of melts in microgravity.
• Combining microgravity and EML significantly enhances the study of thermophysical properties and microstructure.
• This approach is crucial for advancing research on undercooled melts and reactive materials.