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Glass Formation in Microgravity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

C. S. Ray  and
D. E. Day
C. S. Ray
Affiliation:
Graduate Center for Materials Research and Department of Ceramic Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO 65401
D. E. Day
Affiliation:
Graduate Center for Materials Research and Department of Ceramic Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, MO 65401
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Abstract

Containerless glass forming experiments conducted aboard the space shuttle STS-61A in October 1985, which used a single axis acoustic levitator/furnace (SAAL) are described. A total of eight spherical samples =6±1 mm diameter were used. Each sample had one or more of the following objectives; (1) obtain quantitative evidence for the suppression of heterogeneous nucleation/crystallization in containerless melts in micro-g, (2) study melt homogenization in the absence of gravity driven convection, (3) develop procedures for preparing precursor samples suitable for space experiments, (4) perform comparative property analysis of glasses melted on earth and in micro-g, (5) determine the feasibility of preparing glass shells in micro-g for use as laser fusion targets, and (6) assess the operational performance of the SAAL for processing multicomponent, glass forming melts in micro-g. Depending upon their composition, the samples were melted between 900 and 1500°C for about 5 to 12 minutes.

Motion pictures of solid and liquid samples showed that the levitator/furnace operated as planned. A ternary calcia-gallia-silica glass prepared in micro-g was reasonably homogeneous and provided evidence for 2 to 3 fold increase in the tendency for glass formation in space. Melt homogenization in space was reasonably fast for this calcia-gallia-silica melt and hot-pressing appeared to be a feasible way of preparing precursor samples for use in micro-g flight experiments. Valuable information for the technology of materials processing in space was obtained.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 87: Symposium O – Materials Processing in the Reduced Gravity Environment of Space , 1986 , 239
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1987

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