Eutectic structures of Ag-Cu after melting and solidification in microgravity and on earth

Results obtained on a eutectic alloy of Ag-Cu after melting and solidification in μ-g are reported. In microgravity the specimens show a regular eutectic structure both lamellar and rod-like shaped and a dendritic one with random orientations and volume fraction higher than l-g. On earth, instead, they exhibit an irregular eutectic structure, almost completely lamellar and a dendritic one with preferential orientations. These differences are consistent with a considerable reduction of convection in the specimens treated in μ-g.