Solidification is an important step in the production of parts manufactured from metals and alloys,
as well as in the growth of single crystals for the electronics industry. As conducted on Earth,
solidification is invariably accompanied by motion of the liquid due to density gradients
arising from temperature of concentration gradients; this convection can significantly affect
the microstructure and composition (segregation) of the solid formed. Much fundamental knowledge
is being gained by conducting solidification experiments in low Earth orbits. However,
even under microgravity conditions, residual convection effects may be present and such
experiments are expensive. The concept behind this research is that convection can be slowed
by exploiting a force which arises, even in non-conducting fluids, when a strong magnetic field
is imposed on a diamagnetic or paramagnetic material. The possibility exists of slowing convection
during solidification on Earth or its further reduction in space. A combination of mathematical
modeling and experiments (including experiments in a superconducting magnet at the Marshall
Space Flight Center) is being used to examine this possibility.