Low-gravity process engineering: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:40, 24 September 2024

Revision as of 10:38, 2 November 2024

Line 77:

Materials processing in space offers unique opportunities for producing novel materials and improving existing manufacturing techniques.

[[Crystal growth]] in space benefits from the absence of gravity-induced convection and sedimentation. This environment allows for the growth of larger, more perfect crystals with fewer defects.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ferré-D'Amaré |first=Adrian R. |date=1999-07-01 |title=Crystallization of Biological Macromolecules, by Alexander McPherson. 1999. Cold Spring Harbor, New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Hardcover, 586 pp. $97 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/rna/article/abs/crystallization-of-biological-macromolecules-by-alexander-mcpherson-1999-cold-spring-harbor-new-york-cold-spring-harbor-laboratory-press-hardcover-586-pp-97/2AAB312C66E0152B71B44C9F5B5C5B1E |journal=RNA |language=en |volume=5 |issue=7 |pages=847–848 |doi=10.1017/S1355838299000862 |doi-broken-date=1 November 2024-09-24 |issn=1355-8382}}</ref> Space-grown crystals have applications in electronics, [[optics]], and pharmaceutical research.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Littke |first1=Walter |last2=John |first2=Christina |date=1986-08-02 |title=Protein single crystal growth under microgravity |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0022-0248%2886%2990183-1 |journal=Journal of Crystal Growth |volume=76 |issue=3 |pages=663–672 |doi=10.1016/0022-0248(86)90183-1 |bibcode=1986JCrGr..76..663L |issn=0022-0248}}</ref>

[[Metallurgy]] and [[alloy]] formation in microgravity can result in materials with unique properties. The absence of buoyancy-driven convection allows for more uniform mixing of [[Melting|molten]] metals and the creation of novel alloys and composites that are difficult or impossible to produce on Earth.<ref name=":5" />