Influence of surface tension effects on solidification of alloys in space and on ground

Solidification experiments of AlAl3Ni and AlBi alloys were carried out in space on board a Chinese recoverable satellite. An obvious double vortical radiant structure of AlAl3Ni eutectic and a homogeneous microstructure of AlBi monotectic were obtained. Combined fluid physics and metallography, the effect of surface tension gradient driven convection on the formation of radiant eutectic structure and the Marangoni migration of second-phase droplets in the molten alloy were analyzed.