2010 Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 210-
Thermophysical properties of liquid metals are necessary for numerical process modeling for casting, welding, refining and crystal growth. However, measuring thermophysical properties is a difficult task because of existence of convections in liquids and contamination from contact materials. To overcome these experimental difficulties, we have developed the noncontact laser modulation calorimetry using electromagnetic levitation in a static magnetic field. A static magnetic field is superimposed to a metallic droplet levitating electromagnetically. Convections in the droplet and oscillation of the droplet can be well suppressed by the Lorenz force caused by a static magnetic field. The droplet with suppressed convections is subjected to the modulated laser calorimetry. Heat capacity and thermal conductivity are successfully measured using this method.
