Uniform distribution of BeO particles in Be casting produced in rocket free fall

An experiment at zero-g aboard a NASA sounding rocket was conducted to evaluate the distribution of BeO particles in a Be casting. A distinction is drawn between the downward settling of particles in a quiescent melt, and the velocity gradient collisions of particles in a melt agitated by electromagnetic stirring. A similar experiment was conducted on earth using the same melting and solidification of a 0.922 cm spheroid of HIP-50 as was carried out in space; the only difference arising from the effect of gravity. Under zero-g conditions, the time needed for agglomeration was lengthened considerably, but the result was a casting of more uniform particle distribution.