Mh. Mccay et Td. Mccay, THE INFLUENCE OF MICROGRAVITY ON THE DENDRITIC GROWTH-RATES OF NH4CL-H2O - AN INTERNATIONAL MICROGRAVITY LABORATORY EXPERIMENT, Journal of crystal growth, 135(3-4), 1994, pp. 594-600
Ten NH4Cl-H2O Bridgman directional solidification experiments were run
on an International Microgravity Laboratory Space Shuttle flight in J
anuary 1992 using a matrix of temperature gradients and cooling rates.
Ground-based experiments using otherwise duplicate conditions were co
nducted on earth in the flight science modules. Dendritic front growth
rates were obtained using reconstruction holograms taken periodically
during the runs. The ground-based growth rates of the dendritic front
s were approximately one-half those of the flight growth rates. This i
s attributed primarily to changes in the concentration of the bulk flu
id supplying NH4Cl to the tips as a result of the onset of convective
flow and the concomitant dendritic coarsening. Reduced transparency of
the overall mushy zone on earth is attributed to the increased ammoni
um chloride concentration within the interdendritic fluid. These resul
ts indicate that microgravity is a valid experimental platform for min
imizing flow effects and therefore ennabling the optimum production of
directional materials.