• Understanding of dendrite evolution has been dramatically increased by microgravity experiments, principally in undercooled pure materials.
• Understand the dynamics that lead to uniform and reproducible three-dimensional pattern formation in materials, particularly alloys
• Obtain benchmark data required for establishing the detailed dynamics of interface pattern selection during the solidification of alloys.
• A fundamental understanding of interface dynamics is central to tailor microstructures to optimize materials properties.

Dynamic Selection of Three-Dimensional Interface Patterns in Directional Solidification Quad Chart

• In crystal growth there is a need to understand the relation between processes in the fluid phase, both liquid and vapor, such as buoyancy driven convection, the incorporation of impurities, and defects in the resulting crystal.
• Relation between fluid phase processes and the generation of defects in a grown crystal is an outstanding problem in materials growth.
• Studies in microgravity will be compared with modeling and will be used to optimize ground-based experiments.

Crystal Growth of Ternary Compound Semiconductors (GTS) Quad Chart

• Determine the influence of liquid and solid short-range order on the nucleation barrier
• Determination the composition dependence of nucleation rate and evaluate a new coupled flux model for nucleation
• Correlate the nucleation kinetics with the local structure of the liquids
• Correlate the local structure with containerless measurements of thermophysical properties
• Determine changes in the growth rate of the solid as a function of the complexity of the solid phase

Quasi-Crystalline Undercooled Alloys for Space Investigation (QUASI) Quad Chart

• To provide a facility onboard the ISS to conduct materials science research/technology experiments by:
  • Providing a modular facility to accommodate up to two Experiment Modules (EM)
  • Providing for the facility integration of the ESA MSL EM
  • Successfully supporting the planned investigations through the mission
  • Providing resources for experiment modules: power, data, vacuum (resource and exhaust), cooling, microgravity isolation, video.

Materials Science Research Rack (MSRR) Quad Chart

• To provide a facility onboard the ISS to conduct research/technology demonstrations by:
  • Providing an enclosed isolated working volume with distributed resources for the implementation and observation of Investigations
  • Providing for facility integration and support of selected experiments
  • Successfully supporting the operation of research investigations/technology demonstrations through their assigned mission segments

Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Quad Chart