Abstract
Thin films are interesting for practical as well as for theoretical reasons. As fluid science and materials science in space have been developing rapidly in recent years, investigation into thin films under microgravity conditions grants this classical topic new research ideas and new application possibilities. This paper first gives an overview about the investigation into thin liquid films and its solidification in the past. Then a discussion leads to microgravity in relevance to thin film research; specially, the influence of gravity on the thin film drainage. Some results from our research program are then presented. Finally, the authors tried to point out several possible directions in the research on thin films under microgravity in the near future.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fusinieri A. About the changes of colors reflected by thin films and their transmitted complements. Ann. Scienze Regno Lombardo-Veneto, 1834, 4:213
Reinold AW, Ruecker AW. On the relation between the thickness and the surface tension of liquid films. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (London), 1886, 177:627
Bakker G. Thin liquid films and small liquid drops. Ann. der Physik, 1908, 26(4):35
Boys CV. Experiments with rotating liquid films. Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), 1912, 87:340
Michl W. Neue Versuche mit fluessigkeitslamellen. Physikalische Zeitschrift, 1913, 14:218
Dewar J. Studies on liquid films. Proc. Roy. Inst. Gt. Brit., 1918, 22:359
Foulk CW. A theory of liquid film formation. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 1929, 21(9):815
Gibbs JW. in Collected Works, Longmans Green, New York, 1931, 1: 301
Grabmaier JG. Current status and perspective on SOG Si and/or Silicon sheet technologies. in: Proc. 6th New Energy Industrial Symposium, Tokyo, 1986: 33
Beck A., Geissler, J., Helmreich D., Wahlich, R. Shaped crystal growth of silicon foils by RAFT. Journal of Crystal Growth, 1987, 82:127
Li YG. A review of investigation on thin films under microgravity conditions. MARS Report (Internal), Italy, 1989
Jain RK., Ivanov, I. B., Maldarelli C., Ruckenstein, E. Instability and rupture of thin liquid films. in: Sorensen TS ed. Dynamics and Instability of Fluid Interfaces. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, New York, 1979
Schoene A, Li YG. Investigations on the surface and crystalline structure of foils drawn from NaNO3 and Si on earth. IMRS Report, University of Bremen, Germany, 1989
Steurer WH, Gorham DJ. Processes for space manufacturing. NASA CR-61334, 1970
Summerlin LB. (ed.) Skylab, classroom in space. NASA Sp-401, 1977
Dodge FT, Abramson HN, Angrist SW et al. Fluid physics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer experiments in space-Final report of the overstudy committee. NASA CR-134742, 1975
Lai CL, Breenberg PS, Chai AT. Experimental study of thermocapillary flows in a thin layer with heat fluxes imposed on the free surface. NASA TM-100252, 1988
Kranz WB, Nerad BA. Interrelationship between the Marangoni, thin film and gradient-driven instability mechanisms: The thin film problem. in: Marto PJ and Tanssawa eds. Proceeding of the 1987 ASME/USME Thermal Engineering Joint Conference, Vol.2, ASME
Napolitano LG. Surface and buoyancy driven free convection. Acta Astronautica, 1982, 9 (4):199
Napolitano LG, Monti R. Surface driven flows: Recent theoretical and experimental results in: Proceeding of 6th European Symposium on Material Sciences under Microgravity Conditions, Bordeaux, France, 1987. ESA SP-256: 551
Planning for materials processing in space. Report of the University of Alabama, Grant Number NGT 01-002-095, USA, 1977
Chen XS, Pan MX. Review of the roles of the facilities with the microgravity of short duration in material science experiments. Microgravity Quarterly, 1990, 1 (1):53
Monti R, Li YG. Behaviour of mass and heat transport in solidifying NaNO3 sheets pulled by MFT under terrestrial conditions. MARS Report (Internal), Italy, 1989
Carotenuto L, Li YG. Hydrodynamics of film pulling process. MARS Report (Internal), Italy, 1991
Carotenuto L, Li YG. Stability of thin liquid films. MARS Report (Internal), Italy, 1991
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
in memory of Prof. L. G. Napolitano
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Y., Carotenuto, L. Investigation into thin films under microgravity. Acta Mech Sinica 8, 97–103 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02487155
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02487155