Apparatus for researching surface properties of liquid metals and alloys with low melting temperature

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining surface properties of liquid metals and alloys with a low melting temperature, equipped with a functionally connected measuring module A), an electronic module B) and a software module C), where the measuring module A) is equipped with a base (1), a weight measuring device (12), an optical camera (13) and vertical guides (7), along which a movable platform (2) moves with the help of a stepper motor (8), powered and controlled by an electronic module B). A well-insulated main furnace (4) is located on the movable platform (2), a heater (3) and a temperature sensor with a thermostat, controlled by the electronic module B). The free thermally insulated volume above the furnace (4) is closed by a heat-resistant transparent cylinder (14) located on a gas distributor (44) and provided in its upper part with an opening through which a holder (6) for a measuring sample (5) freely passes, the holder (6) being connected to an inextensible thread (10) passing through a spool (9) which is fixed to one of the guide columns (7) and hooked to a compensating weight (11) contacting the measuring weight device (12), and in the upper part of the heat-resistant cylinder (14) a second furnace (15) is mounted, provided with a metal tubular base (48) and a second heater (45), around which a coil with an inlet (46) and an outlet (47) is wound, the second heater (45) being connected to an independent power source (16), and the gas distributor (44), the insulating heat-resistant cylinder (14), the second furnace (15) and the coil (46) and (47) constitute a movable system (17) mounted on special vertical rails (173) and the measuring module A), the optical observation camera (13) and the weight measuring device (12) are connected via the electronic module B) to a personal computer and are controlled via the user interface of the software module C). The described apparatus allows the study of the interaction between a solid measuring sample (5) with a liquid metal / melt (18) in a controlled gas environment when measuring surface properties of liquid metals and alloys with a low melting point.