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Toward a Microgravity Research Strategy (1992) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix E: Glasses and Ceramics
Pages 43-46

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From page 43...
... Most of the REPORT MENU current research in structural ceramics focuses on toughening mechanisms to NOTICE help inhibit failure. the essence of ceramic properties is as much in the internal MEMBERSHIP structure of their crystals as in their chemical composition.
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From page 44...
... Such studies include nucleation, glass formation in undercooled states, thermophysical measurements kinetics of purification, and buoyancy and convection in levitated samples While it is envisioned that glasses and ceramics might be scrutinized to produce selected benchmark materials that can serve as standards to which future terrestrial technology could aspire, it is highly unrealistic to expect that a technology for either glass or ceramic processing could be deployed economically in space in the foreseeable future. MAJOR RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS Two experiments on the containerless processing of several different glasses have been flown on the Space Shuttle.
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From page 45...
... Therefore, the exploitation of ultrapure glass fibers from new materials systems is worth studying in microgravity. The preparation of powders by gas-phase reactions in fluidized bed reactors makes study of the kinetics of powder nucleation and growth extremely difficult because of convective currents and particle settling caused by gravity.
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From page 46...
... The virtual absence of both desirable and undesirable convective effects in low gravity processing permits the study of complex processes when convective complications are eliminated.
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Key Terms

  • glass fibers
  • microgravity research
  • containerless melting
  • microgravity program
  • ultrapure glass

  • glass formation
  • nucleation effects
  • bubble behavior
  • glass crystallization
  • space research

  • glass research
  • optical glass
  • powder processing
  • perform containerless
  • gravity processing

  • glass materials
  • current microgravity
  • developing containerless
  • microgravity science
  • microgravity environment

  • examines glass
  • mechanical performance
  • inhibit failure
  • reactors makes
  • solid state

  • chemical sources
  • resulting homogenization
  • processing reactive
  • applications flight
  • effects produces


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