Advanced Solidification Studies on Transparent Alloy Systems: A New European Solidification Insert for Material Science Glovebox on Board the International Space Station

Investigations on solidifying transparent model alloys have served frequently to gain knowledge on physical phenomena occurring during solidification of metallic alloys. However, quantitative results were obtainable in thin samples where convection can successfully be suppressed. Quantitative studies on three-dimensional phenomena not being affected by natural convection are thus only possible under microgravity conditions. Therefore, the European Space Agency (ESA) is planning to launch a new insert for the material science glovebox on board of the International Space Station for studies on solidification phenomena in thick samples. Four different classes of transparent model alloys will be used to address the following scientific topics: (I) columnar to equiaxed transition in solidification processing, (II) novel peritectic structures and in situ composites; (III) solidification along an eutectic path in binary alloys; and (IV) solidification along an eutectic path in ternary alloys. In this article, we give details on the scientific objectives and the operational features ESA’s new solidification device will offer.