Design, integration, and experimental verification of a high-temperature directional solidification arc furnace.

摘要

This work focused on the design, integration, and experimental verification of a high temperature directional solidification arc furnace. The completed system is the ground based version of a "modified" float-zone furnace intended for eventual use aboard the NASA KC-135 reduced gravity research aircraft, upon further modifications. Heating of the sample is performed by an orbiting high temperature arc-plasma front which is established using the GTAW process. Requirements necessary to achieve directional solidification are reviewed, and details presented describing how these requirements were taken into account in the design and fabrication of this furnace. Verification testing of the completed system was carried out using type 430 stainless steel samples. Results from these initial tests serve as the basis for future experiments. Furnace parameters need to be studied further in order to determine optimum settings for particular materials of interest.