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Electrostatic Levitation on the ISS

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Metallurgy in Space

Part of the book series: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series ((MMMS))

Abstract

The electrostatic levitation method utilizes Coulomb force between a charged sample and surrounding electrodes to control the sample position. The need for a high-speed feedback control system explains why electrostatic levitators were latecomers compared to aerodynamic, acoustic, and electromagnetic levitators on the materials processing arena. Several innovations brought along the years on high-vacuum and pressurized electrostatic levitators enabled stable positioning and melting of several refractory metals and ceramics. Since then, this method has been successfully used to measure thermophysical properties of molten materials at elevated temperatures not only on the ground but also in microgravity. This chapter briefly reviews the principle of the electrostatic levitation method, relates both the history of microgravity experiments and the development of the electrostatic levitation furnace in the International Space Station by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and discusses its current status.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. W.K. Rhim for his extensive assistance through the development of the ISS-ELF. The authors also want to express their gratitude to the ISS crew members and ground operation staff for their support during the on-board assembly, checkout and experiments. It is also acknowledged that the ISS-ELF was designed and fabricated by the IHI Aerospace company.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Takehiko Ishikawa

  2. I.N.O., Quebec-City, QC, Canada

    Paul-François Paradis

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  1. Takehiko Ishikawa
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  2. Paul-François Paradis
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Correspondence to Takehiko Ishikawa .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Functional Nanosystems, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

    Hans-Jörg Fecht

  2. Institute of Functional Nanosystems, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

    Markus Mohr

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Ishikawa, T., Paradis, PF. (2022). Electrostatic Levitation on the ISS. In: Fecht, HJ., Mohr, M. (eds) Metallurgy in Space . The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-89784-0_5

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