Experimental Performance within the SCA Prototype Test 1 Using ESA`s Solidification and Quench Furnace (MSL-SQF) on Ground

Abstract

The preparation of the solidification experiments planned onboard the ISS within the SETA research program was supported by a first full test run within the SQF- Solidification and Quench Furnace of the Materials Science Lab (MSL) using an eutectic alloy of the Al-Cu-Ag system as test sample. This first SCA prototype test in the SQF comprises a directional melting, solidification and subsequent quenching of the sample. The test evaluation presented in this paper is limited mainly to the evaluation of the recorded sample temperatures and focuses on the experimental performance in the view of a scientific user of the SQF. The thermal gradient achieved in the sample reaches about 10.6 K/mm and showed a good stability over the pulling length. The position of the solidification interface relative to the middle of the adiabatic zone, however, is shifted considerably towards the cooling zone. The quenching performance reached a starting value of 27 K/s.