Investigation of metallic and metallic glass hollow spheres for fusion target application
Abstract
The first successful formation of submillimeter and millimeter spherical shells of tin and of a gold-lead-antimony alloy by means of the hollow-jet instability technique developed by Kendall is reported. Examination of tin specimens by SEM reveals that surface quality varies from poor to excellent. Whereas the metal is employed only as a convenient and inexpensive material, the gold alloy is important in that it is hard, has a high atomic number, and may be solidified into the amorphous state through the provision of a modest cooling rate. AuPbSb spherules up to 1.5 mm in diameter are produced using LN2 or chilled methanol as a coolant. It is found that these amorphous samples possess a superb surface smoothness compatible with fusion target requirements. It is noted that hollow spheres currently made of this alloy have an average outside diameter of 2000 microns.
- Publication:
-
Materials Processing in the Reduced Gravity Environment of Space
- Pub Date:
- 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982mprg.proc..105L
- Keywords:
-
- Inertial Confinement Fusion;
- Metallic Glasses;
- Targets;
- Amorphous Materials;
- Antimony Alloys;
- Gold Alloys;
- Lead Alloys;
- Microgravity Applications;
- Space Commercialization;
- Spherical Shells;
- Tin Alloys;
- Engineering (General)