Density of molten gadolinium oxide measured with the electrostatic levitation furnace in the International Space Station

Abstract

Density of gadolinium oxide in its liquid phase was measured using a containerless technique under microgravity environment in the International Space Station (ISS). An electrostatically levitated sample was melted using high power semiconductor lasers. Pictures of a molten spherical sample were analyzed and corresponding volumes were obtained as afunction of temperature. After weighing the returned sample mass, the density of the Gd2O3 was found to be 7240 kg/m3 at its melting temperature (Tm = 2693 K).