In Situ X-ray Studies of metal alloy solidification in microgravity conditions – The XRMON project

The performance of structural metallic materials is associated with the solidification microstructures, which are strongly dependent on gravity effects. Experimentation in a microgravity environment is a unique way to suppress these effects and to provide benchmark data for testing current theories of grain and microstructure formation. This contribution presents a summary of results obtained for directional solidification of Al-Cu alloys within the framework of the XRMON project. It is focussing on (i) the first ever microgravity experiment on solidification with in situ monitoring of metal alloys performed on board a sounding rocket and (ii) solidification experiments performed on board parabolic flights, where the effects of varying gravity level have been studied.