University of Victoria

Published purpose

The MICAST is an international project developed by researchers from Germany (ACCESS eV, Aachen; Institute of Materials Physics in Space, DLR, Cologne), France (SIMA/ERM, Grenoble; CIRIMAT, Toulouse), Hungary (University of Miskolc), the United States (University of Arizona), and Canada (University of Victoria), and supported by a number aluminum companies (Hydro Aluminium Deutschland, ALCAN-Pechiney, INOTAL, Alcoa-Kofem Ftf, Nemak Hungary, and Aleris). The main driving force for this project is to determine the role and control of the effect of gravity in improving the microstructure formation of aluminum alloys used in the aluminum industry. The overall objectives of the project are to identify and control experimentally the fluid flow patterns that affect microstructure evolution during casting processes, and to develop analytical and advanced numerical simulation models for verification. The microgravity environment at the International Space Station (ISS) is of special importance to this project because it provides a platform where gravity-induced convective flows are minimized, and well- defined experimental conditions for solidification can be established to control the adverse effects of the fluid flow on the micro- and macro-structures of the solidified alloy.