ABSTRACT Brazil has a Microgravity Program mainly based on experiments using sounding rockets. Up to now, four missions have been carried out with approximately 35 experiments submitted in total. In all flights, the Associate Laboratory of Sensors and Materials of the Brazilian Space Research Institute (LABAS/INPE) participated with a fast solidification furnace, capable of producing temperatures up to 900 °C, which was tested with semiconductor and metal alloys. This paper describes the construction and the performance of that furnace during the last parabolic flight, Rio Verde Mission, occurred in 2016. The solidification furnace is now qualified and ready to be used by other institutions in sounding rocket flights.

Abstract: The Brazilian Microgravity Program is mainly based on experiments carried out on sounding rockets. Up to present days, three missions carrying a total of 25 experiments were made. In all flights, a fast solidification furnace, capable of producing temperatures up to 900º C, was used to process metal and semiconductor alloys in microgravity environment. This paper has described the furnace and the solidification experiment made during the last parabolic flight, called Maracati Mission, which has occurred in December, 2010.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was the temperature monitoring at bonding interface during the rotary friction welding process of dissimilar materiais: AA1050 aluminum with AISI 304 stainless steel. As it is directly related to the mechanical strenght of the junction, its experimental determination in real time is of fundamental importance for understanding and characterizing the main process steps, and the definition and optimization of parameters. The temperature gradients were obtained using a system called Thermocouple Data-Logger, which allowed monitoring and recording data in real-time operation. In the graph temperature versus time obtained, the heating rates, cooling were analyzed, and the maximum temperature was determined that occurred during welding, and characterized every phases of the process. The efficiency of this system demonstrated by experimental tests and the knowledge of the temperature at the bonding interface open new Unes of research to understand the process of friction welding.

Abstract: The purpose of this work was to assess the development of solid state joints of dissimilar material AA1050 aluminum and AISI 304 stainless steel, which can be used in pipes of tanks of liquid propellants and other components of the Satellite Launch Vehicle. The joints were obtained by rotary friction welding process (RFW), which combines the heat generated from friction between two surfaces and plastic deformation. Tests were conducted with different welding process parameters. The results were analyzed by means of tensile tests, Vickers microhardness, metallographic tests and SEM-EDX. The strength of the joints varied with increasing friction time and the use of different pressure values. Joints were obtained with superior mechanical properties of the AA1050 aluminum, with fracture occurring in the aluminum away from the bonding interface. The analysis by EDX at the interface of the junction showed that interdiffusion occurs between the main chemical components of the materials involved. The RFW proves to be a great method for obtaining joints between dissimilar materials, which is not possible by fusion welding processes.