Metal shell technology

Abstract

Metallic shells are fabricated for a size range from several millimeters down to less than 500 microns in diameter. The technology, developed at JPL, is based on the hollow-jet instability for the large-shell formation, and in addition, on the Bernoulli's force for the microbubble generation. Various materials were processed into hollow spheres, such as AL1100, tin, lead, and a metallic glass-forming alloy, AuPbSb. They exhibited a range of contrasting solidification behaviors and surface characteristics. Some of their potential applications will be explored in this paper.