Low-gravity homogenization and solidification of aluminum antimonideThe III-V semiconducting compound AlSb shows promise as a highly efficient solar cell material, but it has not been commercially exploited because of difficulties in compound synthesis. Liquid state homogenization and solidification of AlSb were carried out in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Experiment MA-044 in the hope that compositional homogeneity would be improved by negating the large density difference between the two constituents. Post-flight analysis and comparative characterization of the space-processed and ground-processed samples indicate that there are major homogeneity improvements in the low-gravity solidified material.
Document ID
19760053505
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ang, C.-Y. (Universities Space Research Association Charlottesville, Va., United States)
Lacy, L. L. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Space Sciences Laboratory, Huntsville, Ala., United States)