SURFACE-TENSION MEASUREMENTS ON LIQUID-METALS IN MICROGRAVITY

The results of surface tension measurements on liquid metals and alloy s, performed in microgravity, are presented. Using electromagnetic lev itation and the oscillating drop technique, the surface tension of gol d, gold-copper, and zirconium-nickel was measured. We find excellent a greement with available results obtained on earth by the same techniqu e, but only if the latter are corrected to account for gravity effects . This not only shows the necessity for the correction of surface tens ion data derived from earthbound oscillating drop experiments but also proves its correctness.