Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fabrication of uniform Al-Pb-Bi monotectic alloys under microgravity utilizing the Space Shuttle: microstructure and superconducting properties

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Al-Pb-Bi monotectic alloys with three different compositions were melted and solidified under a microgravity environment in the Space Shuttle. The (Pb, Bi) particles were dispersed uniformly in the aluminium matrix, while evident sedimentation was observed in the reference sample processed under 1 G. Slow cooling was also effective to obtain homogeneous microstructure because of the absence of Marangoni force. The alloys were cold-worked into wires and the superconducting properties of the wires were investigated. The distance between (Pb, Bi) fibres for the alloys prepared under microgravity was so small that the wires showed complete zero resistance below 9 K due to the proximity effect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. KAMIO, H. TEZUKA, S. KUMAI and T. TAKAHASHI, Keikinnzoku 33 (1983) 179 in Japanese

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. A. KAMIO, H. TEZUKA, S. KUMAI, S. SUEDA and T. TAKAHASHI, J. Jpn. Inst. Metals 49 (1985) 677.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. H. KITAGUCHI and K. TOGANO, J. Jpn. Soc. Microgravity Appl. 9 (1992) 13.

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. MOHRI, P. CURRERI, G. SMITH, M. K. WU, D. R. DIETDERICH and K. TOGANO ibid. 7 (1990) 22.

    Google Scholar 

  5. K. TACHIKAWA and K. TOGANO, ibid. 2 (1985) 1.

    Google Scholar 

  6. K. TOGANO, Y. YOSHIDA, K. TACHIKAWA and K. NII, Abstract in “In Space'86”, Tokyo, October 1986.

  7. B. W. ROBERTS, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 5 (1976) 823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Institute for Metals, 1-2-1, Sengen, 305, Tsukuba-Shi, Japan

    H. Fujii, T. Kimura, H. Kitaguchi, H. Kumakura & K. Togano

  2. National Space Development Agency of Japan, 2-1-1, Sengen, 305, Tsukuba-Shi, Japan

    M. Mohri

Authors
  1. H. Fujii
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. Kimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H. Kitaguchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Kumakura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. K. Togano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. Mohri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fujii, H., Kimura, T., Kitaguchi, H. et al. Fabrication of uniform Al-Pb-Bi monotectic alloys under microgravity utilizing the Space Shuttle: microstructure and superconducting properties. Journal of Materials Science 30, 3429–3434 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349890

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349890

Keywords

Search

Navigation