Abstract
In order to clarify a fragmentation mechanism of molten metal jet, we carried out two series of experiments for molten Cu jets dropped through nozzles into a Na pool. We also investigated the effects on two parameters (superheat of molten Cu: 18〜198℃, We_a number: 5〜73) for the promotion of fragmentation. The molten Cu jet was dropped under the condition that the instantaneous contact interface temperature was higher than the boiling point of Na and lower than the melting point of Cu. Therefore, the solid crust formation for Cu and the boiling of Na were assumed while the jet was falling through the Na pool. The thermal fragmentation originating inside the molten jet was clearly observed under the low superheat condition. Moreover, in the present range of ambient Weber numbers and superheat, it is concluded that the thermal fragmentation is more dominant than the hydrodynamic fragmentation.
