Dendrite (crystal) - NASA Microgravity Experiment

NASA Microgravity Experiment

The Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) is a materials science solidification experiment that researchers use on Space Shuttle missions to investigate dendritic growth. Dendritic solidification is one of the most common forms of solidifying metals and alloys. When materials crystallize or solidify under certain conditions, they freeze unstably, resulting in dendritic forms. Scientists are particularly interested in dendrite size, shape, and how the branches of the dendrites interact with each other. These characteristics largely determine the properties of the material.

Read more about this topic:  Dendrite (crystal)

Famous quotes containing the words nasa and/or experiment:

    If we did not have such a thing as an airplane today, we would probably create something the size of NASA to make one.
    H. Ross Perot (b. 1930)

    The playing adult steps sideward into another reality; the playing child advances forward to new stages of mastery....Child’s play is the infantile form of the human ability to deal with experience by creating model situations and to master reality by experiment and planning.
    Erik H. Erikson (20th century)