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Novel Electric Nucleation Technique for Growing Large Single Crystal in SpaceWe present, herein, an electrical model for growing crystals without a seed which might not be free of defects and thereby still hinder the growth of a perfect crystal in space. The system is designed to confine nucleation to a single site automatically in an under saturated solution to avoid multiple nucleation. The technique is based on the effect of electrostriction, which is the tendency of a material to become more compressed in the presence of an electric field. The system is designed to create an electrical potential well between two hyperboloid electrodes with applied voltage at low frequency. The induced potential well between the electrodes oscillates at low frequency and attracts the solute and condenses it into the region of maximum field intensity. The alternating voltage prevents molecules with intrinsic charge from being attracted to the electrodes. The continuous presence of the electric field during the duration of the experiment, provides a continuous migration of the molecules toward the trapping site. This will eliminate the creation of a depletion region around the nucleation center and will enhance the crystal growth rate. Aside from the above mentioned advantages, the system is compact, safe to operate, and inexpensive to build.
Document ID
19990116072
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Abdeldayem, Hossin
(Universities Space Research Association Huntsville, AL United States)
Frazier, Donald O.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Materials Processing
Meeting Information
Meeting: Microgravity Materials Science
Location: San Antonio, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: February 16, 1998
End Date: February 19, 1998
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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