The researchers Report Benchmark data for modeling the growth of specific types of microstructures that form during solidification of metal alloys under various conditions. These microstructures affect the properties of materials and products such as refrigeration devices and solar cells.
ESA (European Space Agency) Equivalent transfer from column to solidification process (CETSOL) investigation studied the solidification process of metallic alloys and the crystal patterns that form as liquids transition to solids. The results could improve ground-based development of lightweight, high-performance structural materials for space and terrestrial applications. Microgravity is key to this research because it eliminates the effects of gravity during solidification and allows researchers to control turbulence and movement.
Composite materials protect against radiation, other hazards.
The researchers found No degradation of two multifunctional radiation shielding composite materials after space exposure. The finding suggests that composite materials with surface layers and coatings could protect crews from radiation and other space hazards on future missions.
Materials ISS Experimental Flight Facility (MISSE-FF) continued a series of investigations examining how space exposure affects materials and material configurations used for space missions. The MISSE-13 material suite included multifunctional composite materials to protect crew members in habitats and spacecraft against radiation, atomic oxygen, and temperature extremes beyond low-Earth orbit.
Modeling the application of boiling to heat transfer
The researchers developed An algorithm for determining the amount of heat transferred during boiling of a liquid and showed that the maximum heat flow occurs where the bubble contacts the surface and the liquid. The discovery could inform the design of thermal control systems for cooling electronics and other applications in spacecraft and on Earth.
of ESA Multiscale boiling examined the dynamics of boiling heat transfer, which creates vapor bubbles that pick up heat from the surface. This technique is less effective in microgravity because boiling is slower, and bubbles remain near the surface in the absence of bubbles. But microgravity also makes it possible to observe effects that are too fast and too small to be measured under normal gravitational conditions, helping scientists understand the dynamics of boiling heat transfer.