Diffusion in liquid metals

Abstract

By doing experiments in space, it was possible to avoid convection in liquid diffusion experiments for the first time. Due to the improved accuracy it was possible to check experimentally different diffusion theories. Spacelab experiments revealed a square dependence of the self-diffusion coefficient on temperature for different metals (Sn, In, Pb, Sb) and for impurity diffusion and interdiffusion in the In-Sn system. For future microgravity experiments a new shear cell was developed, and shearing was investigated during parabolic flights in model experiments. The method of hydromagnetic damping of convection for ground-based liquid metal diffusion experiments was also tested.