Tungsten heavy metals have been of special interest in studies of liquid phase sintering due to their ideal properties as particles growth, matrix wettability and tungsten solubility in the matrix. An interesting way to contribute to the understanding of the sintering mechanism is to study composites containing a rather low amount of tungsten particles. Depending on the great difference in density between the particles and the molten matrix this can only be done under conditions with reduced gravity, that is as space research. For short time experiments flights with rockets in a parabolic path be used. At such experiments a gravity of 1/1000 g can be achieved during a period of around 5 minutes. When a composite having a low tungsten content is molten under microgravity the tungsten particles can grow freely floating in the molten matrix. The influence of parameters like attraction between particles, surface energy and crystallographic anisotropy can be studied. The composites resulting from the space sintering can be used to study the mechanical properties of particle composites and their dependence of the particle fraction. Using one of the flights sponsored by European Space Agency (ESA) called Texus 10, was performed. During the flight samples of two different compositions were melted. Of the special interest was the rapid rearrangement and growth of the tungsten particles. Laboratory tests have therefore been done to follow the initial step of the liquid phase sintering.
Liquid phase sintering under microgravity in space
Sintern mit fluessiger Phase unter Mikrogravimetrie im Weltraum
1988
11 Seiten, 8 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 10 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
Liquid Phase Sintering of Tungsten Composites under Microgravity. Effect of Matrix Composition
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