Microgravity studies of solidification patterns in model transparent alloys onboard the International Space Station
npj Microgravity, vol. 9, pp. 83
Abstract
We review recent in situ solidification experiments using nonfaceted model transparent alloys in science-in-microgravity facilities onboard the International Space Station (ISS), namely the Transparent Alloys (TA) apparatus and the Directional Solidification Insert of the DEvice for the study of Critical Liquids and Crystallization (DECLIC-DSI). These directional-solidification devices use innovative optical videomicroscopy imaging techniques to observe the spatiotemporal dynamics of solidification patterns in real time in large samples. In contrast to laboratory conditions on ground, microgravity guarantees the absence or a reduction of convective motion in the liquid, thus ensuring a purely diffusion-controlled growth of the crystalline solid(s). This makes it possible to perform a direct theoretical analysis of the formation process of solidification microstructures with comparisons to quantitative numerical simulations. Important questions that concern multiphase growth patterns in eutectic and peritectic alloys on the one hand and single-phased, cellular and dendritic structures on the other hand have been addressed, and unprecedented results have been obtained. Complex self-organizing phenomena during steady-state and transient coupled growth in eutectics and peritectics, interfacial-anisotropy effects in cellular arrays, and promising insights into the columnar-to-equiaxed transition are highlighted.
Authors 14
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Institut des NanoSciences de Paris
Affiliation as printed
Sorbonne Université, CNRS-UMR 7588, Institut des NanoSciences de Paris, case courrier 840, 4 place Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France. silvere.akamatsu@insp.jussieu.fr
INSP-E6 - Physico-chimie et dynamique des surfaces (France)
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Sorbonne Université · Institut des NanoSciences de Paris
Affiliation as printed
Sorbonne Université, CNRS-UMR 7588, Institut des NanoSciences de Paris, case courrier 840, 4 place Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France
INSP-E6 - Physico-chimie et dynamique des surfaces (France)
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Affiliation as printed
Access e.V., Intzestr. 5, 52072, Aachen, Germany
ACCESS (GERMANY) (Germany)
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Affiliation as printed
Access e.V., Intzestr. 5, 52072, Aachen, Germany
ACCESS (GERMANY) (Germany)
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · École Polytechnique · Institut Polytechnique de Paris · Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée
Affiliation as printed
Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France
LPMC - Laboratoire de physique de la matière condensée (Route de Saclay 91128 PALAISEAU CEDEX - France)
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Affiliation as printed
Department Metallurgy, University of Leoben, Franz-Josef-Str. 18, 8700, Leoben, Austria
MUL - Montanuniversität Leoben (Franz Josef-Straße 18, 8700 Leoben - Austria)
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Affiliation as printed
Department Metallurgy, University of Leoben, Franz-Josef-Str. 18, 8700, Leoben, Austria
MUL - Montanuniversität Leoben (Franz Josef-Straße 18, 8700 Leoben - Austria)
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Marmara University, 34854 Maltepe, Istanbul, Turkey
Marmara University [Kadıköy - İstanbul] (MÜ Göztepe Kampüsü, 34722 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Turquey - Turkey)
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Toulon · Aix-Marseille Université · Institut des Matériaux, de Microélectronique et des Nanosciences de Provence
Affiliation as printed
Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IM2NP, Marseille, France
IM2NP - Institut des Matériaux, de Microélectronique et des Nanosciences de Provence (Faculté des Sciences Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen Case 142 13397 Marseille Cedex 20 - France)
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Toulon · Aix-Marseille Université · Institut des Matériaux, de Microélectronique et des Nanosciences de Provence
Affiliation as printed
Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IM2NP, Marseille, France
IM2NP - Institut des Matériaux, de Microélectronique et des Nanosciences de Provence (Faculté des Sciences Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen Case 142 13397 Marseille Cedex 20 - France)
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Affiliation as printed
Access e.V., Intzestr. 5, 52072, Aachen, Germany
ACCESS (GERMANY) (Germany)
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Affiliation as printed
Access e.V., Intzestr. 5, 52072, Aachen, Germany
ACCESS (GERMANY) (Germany)
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University of Ulster · Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry Campus
Affiliation as printed
School of Computing, Engineering, and Intelligent Systems, Ulster University, Northland Road, Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland, BT48 7JL, UK
Faculty of Computing and Engineering [University of Ulster] (St James' House 10 Rosebery Avenue Holborn London EC1R 4TF - United Kingdom)
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European Space Agency · European Space Research and Technology Centre
Affiliation as printed
European Space Agency, ESTEC - Research and Utilisation Group, Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration Programmes, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, Netherlands
ESTEC - European Space Research and Technology Centre (Keplerlaan 1, 2201 Noordwijk - Netherlands)
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