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Thermophysical Properties of Fluids Measured Under Microgravity Conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

H.-J. Fecht
Affiliation:
University of Ulm, Faculty of Engineering, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
R.K. Wunderlich
Affiliation:
Technical University Berlin, Institute of Metals Research Hardenbergstr. 36, PN 2-3, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
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Abstract

The analysis of nucleation and growth processes relies mostly on circular arguments since basic thermophysical properties necessary, such as the Gibbs free energy (enthalpy of crystallization, specific heat), the density, emissivity, thermal conductivity (diffusivity), diffusion coefficients, surface tension, viscosity, interfacial crystal / liquid tension, etc. are generally unknown with sufficient precision and therefore often deduced from insufficient linear interpolations from the elements. The paucity of thermophysical property data for commercial materials as well as research materials is mostly a result of the experimental difficulties arising from the unwanted convection and reactions of melts with containers at high temperatures. An overview will be given on the results of thermophysical property measurements during several different space flights using containerless processing methods. Furthermore, a perspective on a future measurement program of thermophysical properties supported by the European Space Agency is described. In this regard, the International Space Station is considered as the ideal laboratory for high precision measurements of thermophysical properties of fluids which help to improve manufacturing processes for a number of key industries.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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References

[1] Fecht, H.-J., Johnson, W.L., Rev. Sc. Instr. 62 (1991) 1299.Google Scholar
[2] Herlach, D.M., Cochrane, B., Egry, I., Fecht, H.-J. und Greer, L.A.: “Containerless Processing in the Study of Metallic Melts and their Solidification”, Int. Mat. Rev. 38 (1993) 273.Google Scholar
[3] Wunderlich, R.K., Lee, D.S., Johnson, W.L., Fecht, H.-J., Phys. Rev. B 55 (1997) 26.Google Scholar