Thermal expansion measurements of liquid metallic samples measured under microgravity conditions

We report the method and first examples of thermal expansion measurements of liquid metallic samples measured under μg conditions. The experiments were performed in an electromagnetic levitation facility (TEMPUS facility) on board the space orbiter Columbia (mission MSL-1). The sample was imaged by a high-resolution CCD camera with on-board recording. After the mission the video tapes were analyzed by digital image processing. First measurements were made with a molten Pd 78 Cu 6 Si 16 sample in the temperature range of about 800 to 1150 °C. The measured value of the coefficient of volume expansion is 8.9×10 −5 /° C in this temperature range.