Surface tension measurements of metallic melts under microgravity

The surface tension of liquid metals and alloys was measured for the first time in microgravity using the oscillating drop technique. Data for pure gold, a congruently melting gold copper alloy, and an eutectic zirconium nickel alloy are presented. We find excellent agreement with available results obtained on Earth by the same technique, but only if the latter are corrected to account for gravity effects. This is not only shows the necessity for the correction of the surface tension data derived from Earth-bound oscillating drop experiments, but also proves its correctness.DeceasedPaper presented at the Fourth International Workshop on Subsecond Thermophysics, June 27–29, 1995, Köln, Germany.