Glass Processing in a Microgravity Environment

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe scientific and technological aspects of processing glasses in a microgravity environment offer considerable challenge and potential. Activities directed to obtaining information relevant to processing materials on earth and eventually processing materials in space for use in space will be considered. The features on the space environment—reduced gravitational forces, vacuum of large capacity, unique radiation conditions, and unlimited dimensions of space—will be discussed, with emphasis directed to the first. The implications of reduced gravitational forces for containerless processing, freedom from deformation, the study and control of weak forces, and the absence of convection and density segregation will be explored. On-going programs concerned with glass processing in space will be reviewed, and additional areas which merit investigation will be considered.