SURFACE-TENSION MEASUREMENTS OF METALLIC MELTS UNDER MICROGRAVITY

The surface tension of liquid metals and alloys was measured for the f irst time in microgravity using the oscillating drop technique. Data f or pure gold, a congruently melting gold-copper alloy, and an eutectic zirconium-nickel alloy are presented. We find excellent agreement wit h available results obtained on Earth by the same technique, but only if the latter are corrected to account for gravity effects. This not o nly shows the necessity for the correction of the surface tension data derived from Earth-bound oscillating drop experiments, but also prove s its correctness.