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Solidification of undercooled Ni-Sn eutectic alloy under microgravity conditions in the Space ShuttleThe Space Shuttle Columbia carried an Alloy Undercooling Experiment on its STS 61-C mission in January, 1986. The experiment was performed in an electromagnetic levitator. A sample of Ni-32.5 wt pct Sn eutectic was melted and solidified under microgravity conditions in the Space Shuttle. The specimen achieved only a fairly small undercooling, probably less than 30 K. The specimen was examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The surface and cross-sectional microstructures were primarily composed of normal lamellar eutectic, but showed several interesting features, including an apparent surface nucleation site, curved dendrites with nonorthogonal secondary arms, dendrite fragments with extremely fine arm spacing, submicron precipitates, and faceted crystals. The results of the space experiment are presented and compared with ground-based results obtained with the same alloy.
Document ID
19880041330
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Piccone, T. J.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Wu, Y.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Shiohara, Y.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Flemings, M. C.
(MIT Cambridge, MA, United States)
Harf, F. H.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Winsa, E. A.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1987
Subject Category
Materials Processing
Meeting Information
Meeting: Materials processing in the reduced gravity environment of space
Location: Boston, MA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 1, 1986
End Date: December 3, 1986
Sponsors: MRS
Accession Number
88A28557
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-24383
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-24875
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7645
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG3-597
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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