Rathz, Thomas | Engineering Papers

NASA NTRS2004

Containerless Processing of a Lithium Disilicate Glass

Glasses of Li2O.2SiO2 (LS2), and LS2 doped with 0.001wt% platinum (LS2 + 0.001 wt% Pt) compositions were melted, cooled and reheated at controlled rates while levitated (containerless) inside an Electrostatic Levitator (ESL) furnace at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL. The experiments were conducted in vacuum (approximately 10(exp -5) Pa) using spherical, 2.5 to 3 millimeter diameter, glass samples. The measured critical cooling rate for glass formation, R(sub c), for the LS2 and LS2+0.001 wt% Pt glasses processed at ESL were 14 plus or minus 2 Celsius per minute and 130 plus or minus 5 Celsius per minute, respectively. The values of R(sub c), for the same LS2 and LS2 + 0.001 wt% Pt glasses processed in a container were 62 plus or minus 3 Celsius per minute and 162 plus or minus 5 Celsius per minute, respectively. The effective activation energy for crystallization, E, for this LS2 glass processed without a container at ESL, 392 plus or minus 15 kiloJoules per mole, was higher than that, 270 plus or minus 15 kiloJoules per mole, for an identical glass processed in a container. These results suggest that the glass formation tendency for a containerless LS2 melt is significantly increased compared to an identical melt in contact with a container. The absence of heterogeneous nucleation sites that are inherently present in all melts held in containers, and or a change in the surface composition due to evaporation of Li2O during processing at ESL are likely reasons for the increased glass forming tendency of this containerless LS2 melt.

Ranasinghe, Kisa↗

NASA NTRS1993

Melt spinning study

Containerless processing of materials provides an excellent opportunity to study nucleation phenomena and produce unique materials, primarily through the formation of metastable phases and deep undercoolings. Deep undercoolings can be readily achieved in falling drops of molten material. Extended solute solubilities and greatly refined microstructures can also be obtained in containerless processing experiments. The Drop Tube Facility at Marshall Space Flight Center has played an important role in enhancing that area of research. Previous experiments performed in the Drop Tube with refractory metals has shown very interesting microstructural changes associated with deep undercoolings. It is apparent also that the microstructure of the deep undercooled species may be changing due to the release of the latent heat of fusion during recalescence. For scientific purposes, it is important to be able to differentiate between the microstructures of the two types of metallic species. A review of the literature shows that although significant advances have been made with respect to the engineering aspects of rapid solidification phenomena, there is still much to be learned in terms of understanding the basic phenomena. The two major ways in which rapid solidification processing provides improved structures and hence improved properties are: (1) production of refined structures such as fine dendrites and eutectics, and (2) production of new alloy compositions, microstructures, and phases through extended solid solubility, new phase reaction sequences, and the formation of metallic-glass microstructures. The objective of this work has been to determine the optimal methodology required to extract this excess energy without affecting the thermo-physical parameters of the under-cooled melt. In normal containerless processing experiments recalescence occurs as the melt returns toward the melting point in order to solidify. A new type of experiment is sought in which the resultant microstructure of the undercooled species is frozen in without going through the melting point regime and subsequent near equilibrium solidification of the remaining liquid. This experimental approach entails the design of an appropriate melt spinning system which is compatible with Drop Tube operations and processing constraints. That work is the goal of this study.

Workman, Gary L.↗