DECOMPOSITION, SEDIMENTATION AND PRECIPITATION OF COMPONENTS OF LIQUID-METAL SYSTEMS, EXHIBITING IMMISCIBILITY REGIONS, IN WEIGHTLESSNESS AND QUASIWEIGHTLESSNESS.

The paper presents a detailed discussion of the mechanisms by means of which otherwise immiscible metals may be made to form an alloy in weightlessness. The several modes of droplet coalescence, responsible for the reverse process of decomposition of the mixture are listed and the conditions under which they occur are described. The characteristic times of these mechanisms are calculated. Ways of cancelling residual gravity-induced and convective coalescence are proposed. The above is used to provide an explanation for the failure of space experiments on obtaining such alloys. It is claimed the recommendations presented in this paper will aid in obtaining the desired alloys under weightlessness conditions.