High-temperature containerless aircraft furnace experimentation in the microgravity environment aboard a KC-135 aircraftThis paper describes a materials processing research furnace, the High-Temperature Containerless Aircraft Furnace (HITCAF), which uses an electric arc to melt and resolidify materials in the microgravity environment aboard a KC-135 aircraft. The HITCAF is designed to process almost every electrically conductive material, including such high-melting-point materials as tungsten, within a 15 to 20 sec microgravity period. It operates on tungsten/inert gas welding principles, using an adapted commercially available tube welder. The HITCAF is fully operational and available for use by researchers representing the Government agencies, as well as industry and academia.
Document ID
19890037966
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Poorman, Richard M. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Guynes, Buddy V. (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Shurney, Robert (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Weeks, Jack (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)