[ELF TechDemo]
Technical Demonstration of Electrostatic Levitation Furnace

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

Production of metal oxides, semiconductors, and alloys around high melting temperatures is difficult in ground experiments because creating the needed levitation environment in normal gravity (1G) is difficult. In the thermophysical properties measurement, the effects of evaporation are severe, however inert carrier gases cannot be used to prevent electric discharge between electrodes in ground experiments. Inert gas conditions can be applied in microgravity conditions, because only small electric fields are necessary.

This research obtains data on the thermophysical properties around high melting temperatures, and to search for new functional materials by solidification, including overcooling conditions.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (JAXA ELF) provides satisfactory thermophysical properties around high melting temperatures, which are not obtainable in ground experiments. Researchers can consider the possible use of industrial applications to analyze the solid state properties of the returned samples.

This research contributes to the progress of Science and Engineering.

SPACE APPLICATIONS

Although objects seem to float in microgravity, they do not stay in the same position because even small movements by crew members and the International Space Station itself can generate forces that disturb them. The ELF controls materials inside a container, so they do not interact with the container walls and will remain stable despite microgravity disturbances. The ELF supports a variety of physical science experiments for creating new materials and measuring their properties of high and wide temperature range.

EARTH APPLICATIONS

Materials that require a high melting temperature, such as oxides, semiconductors, and metal alloys, can be contaminated by chemical reactions with the container used to melt them. Avoiding those reactions requires limiting contact with the container walls, but on Earth gravity makes it difficult to levitate them into the air using static electricity. Levitating samples is simpler in microgravity because the ELF can use a smaller electric field. Results from the ELF investigation contributes to the development of containerless processing technology, benefiting manufacturers and scientists designing new materials.

ISHIKAWA Takehiko [JAXA]