Abstract
High quality metallic and metallic-glass microballoons (MMB and MGMB) are of considerable interest for fusion target applications on account of the intrinsic properties of these materials such as high density, high strength and high atomic number. We report the first successfully formed submillimeter and millimeter spherical shells of tin and of a gold-lead-antimony alloy by means of the hollow-jet instability technique developed by one of us (JMK). Examination of tin specimens by means of SEM has revealed that surface quality varied from poor to excellent. Whereas this metal has been employed only as a convenient and inexpensive material, the gold alloy is important because it is hard, has high atomic number, and may be solidified into the amorphous state through the provision of a modest cooling rate. We have produced AuPbSb spherules up to 1.5 mm in diameter using LN2 or chilled methanol as a coolant, and have found that these amorphous samples possess a superb surface smoothness compatible with fusion target requirements. Hollow spheres currently made of this alloy have an average O.D. of 2000 µm.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hendricks, C. D., “ICF Targets.” Technical Digest, Conference on Inertial Confinement Fusion, p80, 1980.
Kendall, J., Jr., “Hydrodynamic Performance of an Annular Liquid Jet: Production of Spherical Shells.” Proceedings of Second International Colloquium on Drops and Bubbles, Monterey, CA, Nov. 1981 (to be published).
Saffren, M., Elleman, D., and Rhim, W-K, “Dynamics of Compound Drop Systems.” Proceedings of Second International Colloquium on Drops and Bubbles, Monterey, CA, Nov. 1981 (to be published).
Lee, M. C., Feng, I., Elleman, D. D., Wang, T. G., and Young, A. T., “Generation of a Strong Core-Centering Force in a Submillimeter Compound Droplet System” to be presented at Second International Colloquium on Drops and Bubbles, Monterey, CA, Nov. 1981.
Lamb, H., “Hydrodynamics,” 6th ed., Dover.
Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. CRC Publishing Co. Cleveland, OH.
Rensel, W. B., Steinman, D. A., Crawley, R. L., and Tanner, D. J., “Wall Nonuniformity Measurement of Inertial Fusion Targets Using A Rolling Technique.” Rev. Sci., 51, (11), p. 1478, Nov. 1980.
Kim, C. O. and Johnson, W. D., “Amorphous Phase Separation in the Metallic Glasses (Pb-Sb) Au.” Phys. Rev. B 23, 1, P. 143, Jan. 1980.
Lee, Mark C., Kendall, James M., and Johnson, W. L., “Spheres of the Metallic Glass Au55Pb22.5Sb22.5 and Their Surface Characteristics.” Submitted to Applied Phys. Letter’s, Oct. 1981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research supported by NASA and DOE through Contract NAS7-100.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, M.C., Kendall, J.M., Wang, T.G. et al. Investigation of Metallic and Metallic Glass Hollow Spheres for Fusion Target Application. MRS Online Proceedings Library 9, 105–113 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-9-105
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-9-105