ISS-2

• Measurements of viscosity of molten slag and interfacial tension between molten slag and molten metal by conventional methods.
• Measurements of interfacial tension between molten slag and molten metal by a levitation technique at the International Space Station (ISS).

• To establish a reliable technique for the intefacial tension measurement.
• To optimize the steelmaking process, welding process, etc.

The ISS-2 project aims at producing reliable thermophysical properties including viscosity using the Electrostatic Levitation Furnace (ELF) for the assessment of the interfacial tension between molten slag and molten steel, and understanding the interfacial phenomena between molten slag and molten metal from the interfacial energy and reaction point of view. At the experiment at the International Space Station (ISS), the measurement method for the reliable thermophysical property measurements of molten slag and steel will be established.

To determine the viscosity of the oxide layer which is covering metal layer is essential in order to obtain the interfacial tension by the oscillating drop method, viz., from the surface oscillation of the oxide layer. The results of viscosity measurement will be utilized to analyse the interfacial tension between molten slag and metal which will be measured by oscillation drop method by a collaborator. The viscosity of the oxide layer will be altered by changing composition and the influence on the surface oscillation will be investigated.

This project is an international collaboration and a task of our group is to measure the viscosity of molten oxide, especially “slag” in the steelmaking process, by terrestrial experiment (rotation bob method). Another task is to observe the interfacial phenomena between molten slag and molten metal using X-ray furnace.

Contacts:

Anders E. W. Jarfors External link, opens in new window., Professor (anders.jarfors@ju.se)

Taishi Matsushita External link, opens in new window., Associate professor (taishi.matsushita@ju.se)