Surface tension measurements of industrial iron-based alloys from ground-based and parabolic flight experiments: Results from the thermolab project

For measurements of the surface tension the oscillating drop technique is employed. With the help of digital image processing this method yields the frequencies of the surface oscillations from which the values of the surface tension can be derived. In the framework of ESA’s Thermolab project, the surface tensions of two representative steels: one low carbon steel, and one stainless steel, have been determined over a wide temperature range. The measurements were carried out in an earthbound levitation device, as well as during parabolic flights in the TEMPUS facility, taking advantage of the microgravity environment. The results obtained are compared and discussed in the framework of thermodynamic models.