Non-contact thermophysical property measurements of refractory metals using an electrostatic levitator

Abstract

The electrostatic levitation system, including its history and development, and techniques for non-contact thermophysical property measurements (density, ratio of isobaric heat capacity to hemispherical total emissivity, surface tension and viscosity) are reviewed. Thermophysical properties of refractory metals whose melting temperatures are over 2000 K have been measured with an electrostatic levitator. The experimental results for vanadium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, tantalum and rhenium are presented. Comparison between theoretical calculations based on hard sphere model and measured data, as well as the necessity of microgravity conditions for this research is also discussed.