The experimental apparatus for electrical resistivity measurements of liquid metals and alloys under microgravity due to the launch of a rocket

Abstract

The experimental apparatus was developed for electrical resistivity measurements of liquid metals and alloys under microgravity due to the launch of rocket; whole assembly, contained in the small space of 360 mm(length)×360 mm(width)×97 mm(height), was composed of the cell box, the electronic circuit box, and the battery box. The cell for electrical resistivity measurements due to the dc four probe method was made of Ti metal because of its strength and no reaction to corrosive liquid alloys at high temperatures. The application of this method was made successfully to the measurement of electrical resistivity for liquid Bi–Ga alloys with critical mixing both under gravity condition and under microgravity condition due to the launch of the rocket. The far larger temperature coefficients of resistivity were observed near the critical point. This may indicate the appearance of larger concentration fluctuations under microgravity.