This Skylab SL-4 experiment was the third in a series of investigations designed by Reger et al. to study the solidification of immiscible alloys under low-gravity conditions (see Reger, Apollo 14; Skylab SL-3). The specific objective of the investigation was to determine the effects of the space environment on immiscible systems which separate during processing on Earth.
During the SL-4 mission, two immiscible alloys (Au-Ge and Pb-Zn-Sb) were solidified isothermally and one immiscible alloy (Pb-Sn-In) was solidified directionally within the M-518 Multipurpose Electric Furnace.
The sample compositions and processing parameters appear to have been identical to those employed during the Skylab SL-3 experiment (see Reger, SL-3).
(2) Chassay, R. P. and Schwaniger, A.: Low-G Measurements by NASA. In Workshop Proceedings of the Measurement and Characterization of the Acceleration Environment on Board the Space Station, August 11-14, 1986, Guntersville, Alabama, p. 9-1. (acceleration measurements; post-flight)
(3) Reger, J. L.: Experiment No. M-557 Immiscible Alloy Composites. In Proceedings the Third Space Processing Symposium Skylab Results, Vol. I, April 30-May 1, 1974, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, pp. 133-158. (post-flight)
(4) Experiment M557-Immiscible Alloy Compositions. In MSFC Skylab Corollary Experiment Systems Mission Evaluation, NASA TM X-64820, September 1974, pp. 5-57 - 5-62. (post-flight)
(5) M518-Multipurpose Electric Furnace System. In MSFC Skylab Corollary Experiment Systems Mission Evaluation, NASA TM X-64820, September 1974, pp. 5-42 - 5-56. (processing facility)
(6) Multipurpose Electric Furnace (M518). In MSFC Skylab Mission Report-Saturn Workshop, NASA TM X-64814, October 1974, pp. 12-46 - 12-49. (processing facility)
(7) Immiscible Alloy Compositions (M557). In MSFC Skylab Mission Report-Saturn Workshop, NASA TM X-64814, October 1974, pp. 12-49 - 12-50. (post-flight)
(8) Reger, J. L. and Yates, I. C.: Preparation and Metallurgical Properties of Low Gravity Processed Immiscible Materials. In AIAA 12th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Washington, D.C., January 30-February 1, 1974, AIAA Paper No. 74-207. (post-flight)
(9) Anderson, W. T. and Reger, J. L.: Superconducting Properties of Pb-Sn-In Alloys Directionally Solidified Aboard Skylab. In AIAA 10th Thermophysics Conference, Denver, Colorado, May 27-29, 1975, AIAA Paper No. 75-694. (post-flight)
Key Words:
*Systems Exhibiting a Miscibility Gap*Immiscible Alloys*Binary Systems*Ternary Systems*Melt and Solidification*Isothermal Processing*Directional Solidification*Density Difference*Separation of Components*Sedimentation*Segregation* Buoyancy Effects*Dispersion*Homogeneous Dispersion*Thermal Gradient*
Number of Samples:
nine
Sample Materials:
Two isothermal samples: (1) Au-23.15 wt.% Ge and (2) Pb-45.06 wt.% Zn-9.89 wt.% Sb; one directional sample: Pb-14.80 wt.% Sn-15.00 wt.% In. (Au*Ge*, Pb*Zn*Sb*, Pb*Sn*In*)
Container Materials:
isothermal samples: stainless steel; gradient sample: quartz (Si*O*)
Experiment/Material Applications:
See Reger, Skylab SL-3.
References/Applicable Publications:
(1) Naumann, R. J. and Herring H. W.: Experiment M557, Immiscible Alloy Composites. In Materials Processing in Space: Early Experiments, NASA SP-443, pp. 68-69. (post-flight)
Contact(s):
J. L. Reger
Address Unknown
Dr. David J. Larson, Jr.
Research Center A01-26
Grumman Corporation
Bethpage, NY 11714-3580