Microgravity Material Research in China:2016

Firstly, recent research works of high undercooling and rapid solidification of metallic alloys under ground simulation conditions in Northwestern Polytechnical University are reviewed. Secondly, under normal gravity and microgravity of binary to quinary Nickel-base single crystal alloys with different contents of W, Ta, Al and Ti elements are comparatively investigated by Institute of Metal Research using drop tube. Thirdly, solidification and crystal growth of SJ10-Recoverable Scientific Experiment Satellite by Institute of Semiconductors is introduced.      

Space Materials Science in China: I. Experiment Studies under Microgravity

The virtual absence of gravity-dependent phenomena in microgravity allows an in-depth understanding of fundamental events that are normally obscured and therefore are difficult to study quantitatively on Earth. Of particular interest is that the low-gravity environment aboard space provides a unique platform to synthesize alloys of semiconductors with homogeneous composition distributions, on both the macroscopic and microscopic scales, due to the much reduced buoyancy-driven convection. On the other hand, the easy realization of detached solidification in microgravity suppresses the formation of defects such as dislocations and twins, and thereby the crystallographic perfection is greatly increased. Moreover, the microgravity condition offers the possibilities to elucidate the liquid/solid interfacial structures, as well as clarify the microstructure evolution path of the metal alloys (or composites) during the solidification process. Motivated by these facts, growths of compound semiconductors and metal alloys were carried out under microgravity by using the drop tube, or on the scientific platforms of Tiangong-2 and SJ-10. The following illustrates the main results.      

Electromagnetic containerless undercooling facility and experiments for the shuttle

An electromagnetic furnace is being prepared for flights aboard the space shuttle. This apparatus is capable of melting metals and alloys up to 1400°C melting point by induction heating with subsequent solidification of the freely levitated melt without contact with any container. The solidification can be carried out with greatly reduced fields resulting in minimal heating and stirring of the free melt. Sequential specimens can be processed during flight. Several experiments are planned for a series of flights, beginning in 1985 with an undercooling experiment on NiSn alloys. These will be interspersed with detailed studies of fluid flow caused by low and high field levels in order to quantify the corresponding effect upon the solidification process.     

Mass transport in the near vicinity of solidification fronts under conditions of microgravity

Cellular solidification has been known and discussed since a long time. The appearance of cellular and dendritic microstructure closely resembles Benard cells known from fluid physics. Similar generation mechanismus may possibly be assumed. Both g-dependent and g-independent convective phenomena may probably be linked to the occurrence of instabilities at solidification fronts. It is to be expected that normal freezing of model alloys (advantageously such with no volume change at the freezing point) in a defined temperature gradient (gradient furnace) and quenching them may help to quantity g-influence on solidification.     

Undercooling studies on Nb-Pt and Nb-Si alloys using the 105 meter drop tube

Niobium-platinum samples of compositions ranging from 16 to 32 at. % have been undercooled to as much as 540 K in the low gravity, containerless environment of the 105 meter drop tube located at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Undercooling was terminated in the Nb-Pt samples by the nucleation and growth of the Nb₃Pt phase. In the 16–18 at. % Pt samples, this resulted in samples which are completely Nb₃Pt, in contrast to both the equilibrium phase diagram and the non-undercooled samples which formed with Nb dendrites and interdendritic Nb₃Pt. Undercoolings for the Nb-Si samples were up to 670 K, which corresponds to 27% of the liquidus temperature or 80% of the estimated hypercooling limit. In the Nb-Si system, a coupled zone was identified as well as a metastable extension of the solubility limit of Si in Nb due to deep undercooling.     

空间微重力条件下偏晶合金的研究

利用我国首次卫星搭载,进行了偏晶合金Zn—Pb、Al—Pb 的空间微重力下的重熔试验,研究了低于临界温度下Al—Pb 合金重熔过程中的物理规律;在临界温度之上重熔了Zn—Pb 合金,发现了Marangoni 对流对合金凝固过程的影响;在液态烧结条件下制备了均匀的粉末Zn—Pb 合金。在微重力下的研究表明:空间微重力条件对消除由于重力引起的宏观偏折和自然对流十分重要,但在重力消失后,非重力的其它因素的影响又显得格外重要。     

Progress of microgravity material research during the period of 2007—2009

Orbital experimental researches on crystal growth of Mn-doped GaSb and Bi2Se0.21Te2.79 are briefly summarized. The space experiments were completed in September of 2007 on broad the Foton-M3 satellite of Russia. Ground-based researches on the solidification behaviors of Al-Al3Ni, Al-Al2Cu, Ag-Cu eutectic, Al-Pb monotectic and Cu-Co peritectic alloys in a 50-meter-high drop tube were investigated. New experimental results on the ultrasonic field and the temperature recycling induced to chiral symmetry breaking of NaClO3 crystal also were reported in the present paper.      

Eutectic solidification of Al-Cu alloys influenced by convection

Directional solidification of eutectic Al-Cu alloys has been studied to demonstrate the influence of both impurity concentration and convective conditions. The λ/R relations show that higher iron concentration and intensive stirring coarsen the microstructure. The formation and growth of new iron-containing phases at the solidification front restrict impurity influence. Kinetic data follow a dependence λ.Rⁿ=const with n-value close to 0,5.     

落塔微重力水平激光干涉测量方法中的干扰因素分析

落塔是获得微重力环境的重要设施,落塔微重力水平的测量对微重力科学实验的研究至关重要. 激光干涉是测量落塔微重力水平的一种新方法,这种方法的基本原理是让一个参考落体在落舱中自由下落,落舱由于受到服外空气阻力的作用将与自由落体运动略有差异,1 11. 肫内的参考落体则更接近理想的自由落体运动,这就使得落舱与参考落体之间存在着加速度差,这种加速度差便反映了落服的微重力水平,其所导致的相对运动则可通过激光干涉的方法测量出来. 本文对落塔微重力水平的激光干涉测量方法中将会遇到的一些主要干扰因素进行了分析,计算结果表明,这些干扰网素所造成的总误差约为 1.2 x 10-7g,低于微重力水平的预测值 10-4~lO-6 g,因此该方法是一种比较可行的测量方法.      

Progress in Research on Materials Under Microgravity in China

Research on materials under microgravity in China began in the 1980s, sparked by Prof. Lanying Lin (academician of CAS), Prof. Xiji Wang (academician of CAS), Prof. Guirong Min (academician of CAS), and Prof. Huabao Lin (academician of CAS), and others. The first semiconductor crystal, first optical crystal, and first alloys were grown in space on board a recoverable satellite in 1987. Since then, microgravity materials science became a new scientific branch in China.Scientific and technical activities on space crystal growth and solidification are carried out through two major programs: ground-based studies and orbital experiments. The main results obtained during 2001-2003 are reported below.     

Experimental drop tube of the metallurgy department of Grenoble

The drop tube which will be available in the “Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Grenoble” is described. Its main features are the following: - Dimensions : Drop height : 47.1 m Drop time : 3.1 s Tube inside diameter : 0.2 m - Experimental atmosphere : 1 Ultra-vacuum : 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁷ Pa - Residual gravity level : 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁹ g according to the vacuum level and drop diameter.

This facility is unique insofar as it enables experiments to be performed under ultra-vacuum conditions which, by delaying the formation of surface oxides, should contribute to improving maximum undercooling values.

The techniques used for obtaining small metallic drops (0.5 to 3 mm) are described. The availability of this instrument for the scientific community is also foreseen by the french sponsoring organizations (CEA, CNES, CNRS) ; some practicle informations will be given to potential experimenters.     

Gravitational influence on binary alloy melt equilibria

Micro- and macrosegregation, the nonuniform redistribution of solute during solidification, are common to both casting and welding, processes of fundamental importance in materials engineering. In multicomponent crystal growth where solid/liquid density differences are appreciable gravity-induced separation can lead to significant spatial variations in resulting ingot composition. In fact, this phenomenon is also operative in liquid/liquid systems such as monotectic alloys exhibiting a liquid miscibility gap, where buoyancy-driven flows can result in a sometimes unwanted separation of phases upon cooling through the miscibility dome.     

Optimization of moisture content for wheat seedling germination in a cellulose acetate medium for a space flight experiment.

The Porous Tube Plant Nutrient Delivery System (PTPNDS), a hydrophilic, microporous ceramic tube hydroponic system designed for microgravity, will be tested in a middeck locker of the Space Shuttle. The flight experiment will focus on hardware operation and assess its ability to support seed germination and early seedling growth in microgravity. The water controlling system of the PTPNDS hardware has been successfully tested during the parabolic flight of the KC-135. One challenge to the development of the space flight experiment was to devise a method of holding seeds to the cylindrical porous tube. The seed-holder must provide water and air to the seed, absorb water from the porous tube, withstand sterilization, provide a clear path for shoots and roots to emerge, and be composed of flight qualified materials. In preparation for the flight experiment, a wheat seed-holder has been designed that utilizes a cellulose acetate plug to facilitate imbibition and to hold the wheat seeds in contact with the porous tube in the correct orientation during the vibration of launch and the microgravity environment of orbit. Germination and growth studies with wheat at a range of temperatures showed that optimal moisture was 78% (by weight) in the cellulose acetate seed holders. These and other design considerations are discussed.     

A space instrument for fundamental materials science problems: The MEPHISTO program

Keeping planar the L/S interface during solidification and controling heat and mass transfers in the liquid phase are 2 important constraints which need to be satisfied to grow suitable single crystals. In the first part of this paper we describe performances of the MEPHISTO instrument which allows :

— On line in-situ measurements of the real undercooling of a solidification front by a non-perturbative thermoelectric method.

— On line supervision of convective motions influence on crystal growth. In the second part, we present the first main results obtained during the ground testing of the space mock-up and we quantify the scientific results accuracy concerning both the onset of the morphological stability and the interface response to unsteady perturbations.     

微重力环境下的表面张力及无接触测量

表面张力是材料重要的物理化学参数之一, 尤其在微重力条件下, 由表面张力引起的科学现象一直备受关注. 静滴法是地面重力条件下进行熔体表面张力测量的主要方法, 该方法的测量结果精确, 但在微重力环境下该法应用尚存在一些问题. 本文基于对表面张力理论的思考, 阐述了对其测量方法的认识和见解, 并讨论了地面上采用静滴法对熔体的表面张力进行测量研究以及静滴法在微重力条件下应用的困难. 进而介绍了利用悬浮技术进行熔体表面张力测量的无接触测量方法, 特别介绍了电磁悬浮法, 该法避免了由于容器接触带入杂质所引起的误差, 尤其在微重力条件下消除了重力的影响, 测量精度得到显著提高.      

空间在轨流体输运双槽道微重力实验装置

空间在轨流体输运双槽道微重力实验装置通过在微重力环境下对开口槽道中的流动进行观察,可以分析研究微重力下流体输运的稳定特性.双槽道形式的实验装置在单次实验中可同时对两种不同截面,不同流量的槽道流动进行观测,同时可有效提升落塔实验效率,减少不同槽道对比实验中的不确定因素.针对双槽道流体实验装置设计的关键问题,例如密封、压力补偿、设备布局等,提出了实验装置的系统结构及落塔实验步骤.在落塔短时微重力环境中,采用氟化液（HFE7500）流体介质,利用本实验装置成功观测到槽道流体输运流动与失稳现象.      

Contactless positioning,manipulation and shaping of liquids by gas bearing for microgravity applications

Contactless positioning, manipulation and shaping of liquids using the gas bearing principle is demonstrated by ground experiments. Extensions to microgravity applications are presented also associated with solidification of molten materials.     

直管式科氏质量流量计对脉动流响应的研究

弹性测量管的振动特性决定了科氏质量流量计的测量精度.以直管科氏质量流量计为例,初步分析研究了流体脉动对其测量管振动特性的影响.建立了被测流体脉动时测量管振动的数学模型;采用Galerkin法对模型进行了处理,将模型转化为受外激励和参数激励联合作用的有耦合多自由度振动问题;用多尺度法对其进行了分析,给出了脉动流作用下科氏质量流量计测量管振动的主要频率成分,揭示了脉动流作用的机理.所得到的大部分结论与有关文献的实验结果吻合.     

SJ-10卫星固体材料燃烧实验装置

为对微重力条件下固体材料着火和火焰传播特性进行研究,研制了实践十号（SJ-10）卫星固体材料燃烧实验装置.利用空间高真空条件,采用实验段内气体环境更新和控制技术,实现了在有限实验空间内对多个实验样品进行研究,并提供准确可控的实验环境条件（氧气浓度和气流速度）.通过地面试验验证,该装置可通过实验样品、氧气浓度、气流速度、点火方式等实验参数的灵活组合,实现空间实验机会的充分利用和预定科学目标.      

The influence of gravity on the process of development of animal systems

The development of animal systems is described in terms of a series of overlapping phases: pattern specification; differentiation; growth; and aging. The extent to which altered (micro) gravity (g) affects those phases is briefly reviewed for several animal systems. As a model, amphibian egg/early embryo is described. Recent data derived from clinostat protocols indicates that microgravity simulation alters early pattern specification (dorsal/ventral polarity) but does not adversely influence subsequent morphogenesis. Possible explanations for the absence of catastrophic microgravity effects on amphibian embryogenesis are discussed.