NONCONTACT MODULATION CALORIMETRY OF METALLIC LIQUIDS IN LOW-EARTH-ORBIT

Noncontact modulation calorimetry using electromagnetic heating and ra diative heat loss under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions has been applied t o levitated solid, liquid, and metastable liquid samples. This experim ent requires a reduced gravity environment over an extended period of time and allows the measurement of several thermophysical properties, such as the enthalpy of fusion and crystallization, specific heat, tot al hemispherical emissivity, and effective thermal conductivity with h igh precision as a function df temperature. From the results on eutect ic glass forming Zr-based alloys thermodynamic functions are obtained which describe the glass-forming ability of these alloys.