THERMAL-EXPANSION MEASUREMENTS OF LIQUID METALLIC SAMPLES MEASURED UNDER MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS

We report the method and first examples of thermal expansion measureme nts of Liquid metallic samples measured under mu g conditions. The exp eriments were performed in an electromagnetic levitation facility (TEM PUS facility) on board the space orbiter Columbia (mission MSL-1). The sample was imaged by a high-resolution CCD camera with on-board recor ding. After the mission the video tapes were analyzed by digital image processing. First measurements were made with a molten Pd78Cu6Si16 Sa mple in the temperature range of about 800 to 1150 degrees C. The meas ured value of the coefficient of volume expansion is 8.9x10(-5)/degree s C in this temperature range. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.