Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-t5pn6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T01:29:22.560Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Microgravity Solidification of Immiscible Alloys

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

J. B. Andrews ,
L. J. Hayes ,
Y. Arikawa  and
S. R. Coriell
J. B. Andrews
Affiliation:
Department of Materials and Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL 35294
L. J. Hayes
Affiliation:
Department of Materials and Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL 35294
Y. Arikawa
Affiliation:
Department of Materials and Mechanical EngineeringUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL 35294
S. R. Coriell
Affiliation:
Metallurgical Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Get access

Abstract

This paper covers findings obtained from the microgravity directional solidification of immiscible aluminum-indium alloys during the Life and Microgravity Spacelab Mission in 1996. Three alloys, one of monotectic composition and two alloys containing an excess of indium above the monotectic (i.e., hypermonotectic compositions) were solidified using the Advanced Gradient Heating Facility (AGHF). Samples were processed in specialized ampoule assemblies containing pistons and a high temperature spring in a partially successful attempt to prevent void formation due to thermal contraction of the melt and solidification shrinkage. A comparison of compositional variations between microgravity processed and ground processed samples revealed compositional variations along the length of ground processed samples which were representative of results anticipated due to convective mixing in the melt. Flight samples showed an initial compositional variation indicative of minimal mixing in the melt. However, a discontinuity in the microstructure was observed which coincided with the presence of a void in the flight sample.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 551: Symposium JJ – Materials in Space-Science, Technology & Exploration , 1998 , 255
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Andrews, J. B., O'Dell, J. S., Cheney, A. B., Arikawa, Y., and Hayes, L. J., “Ampoule Design and Testing for Microgravity Experimentation on Coupled Growth in Hypermonotectics,” Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Experimental Methods for Microgravity Materials Science, a publication of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, Schiffman, R. S. editor, 1996.Google Scholar
2 Coriell, S. R., Mitchell, W. F., Murray, B. T., Andrews, J. B., and Arikawa, Y., “Analysis of Monotectic Growth: Infinite Diffusion in L2 - Phase,” Journal of Crystal Growth 179 (1997) pp. 647–657.Google Scholar
3 Massalski, T. B., Binary Alloy Phase Diagrams, ed. Scott, W. W., ASM International, 1990, pp. 162.Google Scholar
4 Mollard, F. R. and Flemings, M. C., “Growth of Composites from the Melt – Part I,” Transactions of the Metallurgical Society of AIME, Vol. 239, 1967, pp. 1526–1533.Google Scholar
5 Mollard, F. R. and Flemings, M. C., “Growth of Composites from the Melt – Part II,” Transactions of the Metallurgical Society of AIME, Vol. 239, 1967, pp. 1534–1546.Google Scholar
6 Tiller, W. A., Jackson, K. A., Rutter, J. W., and Chalmers, B., “The Redistribution of Solute Atoms During the Solidification of Metals,” Acta Metall Vol. 1, 1953, pp. 50–65.Google Scholar
7 Hayes, L. J. and Andrews, J. B., “The Influence of Convection on Composition and Morphology of Directionally Solidified Hypermonotectic Alloys,” Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Experimental Methods for Microgravity Materials Science, a publication of the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, Schiffman, R. S. editor, 1995, pp. 87–92.Google Scholar
8 Andrews, J. B., Hayes, L. J., Arikawa, Y., and Corriell, S. R., “Directional Solidification of Immiscible Al-In Alloys Under Microgravity Conditions,” Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Experimental Methods for Microgravity Materials Science, a CD-ROM Publication by TMS, in press.Google Scholar
9 Verhoeven, J. P. and Homer, R. H., “The Growth of Off-Eutectic Composites from Stirred Melts,” Metallurgical Transactions, Volume 1, 1970, pp. 3437–3441 Google Scholar