Materials dataset from microgravity levitation experiments on the China Space Station

TL;DR

This paper introduces a dataset from materials experiments on the China Space Station, comparing results from microgravity and ground-based setups.

Contribution

The novelty lies in providing a comprehensive dataset from containerless electrostatic levitation experiments in microgravity and matched ground experiments.

Findings

The dataset includes 565 experimental records covering various material types.

It provides thermophysical parameters like liquid-phase density and thermal response indicators.

The dataset enables systematic study of gravity's influence on material behavior.

Abstract

The China Space Station provides new opportunities for containerless materials research through its electrostatic levitation platform, enabling non-contact processing and property measurements of high-temperature materials in microgravity. This dataset presents experimental records from containerless electrostatic levitation experiments conducted both in orbit and through ground-matched experiments under matched configurations. The on-orbit facility integrates tri-axial electrostatic levitation, laser heating, infrared pyrometry, and high-speed diagnostics to support precise observation of materials during high-temperature processes. A ground-matched system with equivalent setup was developed to enable direct comparison between gravitational environments. The dataset contains 565 experimental records, including 420 on-orbit and 145 ground-matched experiments, covering metallic alloys, ceramics, and other material types. It provides key thermophysical parameters, including liquid-phase density and thermal response indicators, enabling systematic investigation of gravity-related influences on material behavior. This dataset offers a valuable resource for research in containerless materials processing, gravitational effect studies, and the development of space-based experimental techniques.

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