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Experiment/Payload OverviewEXPRESS Physics of Colloids in Space (EXPPCS) studied the kinetics of colloidal (fine particles suspended in a fluid) crystal formation and growth. These experiments provided the critical information necessary to use colloidal precursors to fabricate novel materials in the new field of colloidal engineering. Industries using semiconductors, electro-optics, ceramics and composites may benefit from this investigation.
Principal InvestigatorGlenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Sponsoring AgencyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Expeditions Assigned|2|3|4|
Previous ISS MissionsThe predecessors to EXPPCS Binary Colloid Assembly Test-1,-2 were performed on Mir. The EXPPCS investigation was performed on ISS Increments 2 - 4.
Colloids can be defined as fluids with other particles dispersed in them, particularly particles of sizes approximately between 1 nanometer and 1 micrometer. Since colloids have widespread uses in nature and industry, understanding of the underlying physics that controls their behavior is important. Under the proper conditions, colloidal particles can self-assemble to form ordered arrays, or crystals. On Earth, the ordering of these particles is mostly directed by gravitational effects, sedimentation, and buoyancy. Self-assembly does not occur. Thus, the weightlessness of low Earth orbit is an important element in the study of colloids.
Physics of Colloids in Space (PCS) focused on the growth, dynamics, and basic physical properties of four classes of colloids: binary colloidal crystals, colloid-polymer mixtures, fractal gels, and glass. These were studied using static light scattering (for size or positions of the colloids or structures formed), dynamic light scattering (to measure motions of particles or structures), rheological (flow) measurement, and still imaging.
The colloidal engineering process will play a fundamental role in the creation of new materials and products in space, such as optical switches and lasers for communications and displays.
Earth ApplicationsEXPPCS will improve such colloids as paints, food products, drug delivery systems and ceramics by providing a better understanding of colloidal behavior.
The EXPPCS investigation has contributed to Earth-based investigations of cataracts, which are caused by the buildup of damaged proteins within the eye lens and are the single largest cause of blindness. Diagnosis of cataracts is normally carried out by looking for protein buildup via a standard ophthalmological device known as a slit-lamp microscope, which can only detect cataracts once they have formed. Fortunately, a new laser probe originally developed for the U.S. space program to study protein crystal formation on the ISS, has been shown to detect cataracts before they are symptomatic. This new technique uses dynamic light scattering (DLS) to detect small proteins called alpha-crystallins in the eye?s lens, which is a reliable biomarker for cataracts. Laser light is shone into the lens of the eye while a highly sensitive photon detector is used to measure light backscattered at specific wavelengths. If the amount of alpha-crystallin proteins has lessened, this is an indication that cataracts are developing. If cataracts are detected early by this new technique, it may be possible to slow or stop the accumulation of damaged proteins by reducing relevant factors.
Crew time is required for experiment transfer and activation, checkout, and periodic monitoring. The experiment requires water cooling from its EXPRESS Rack and will be equipped with the Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) which reduces vibrations.
Operational ProtocolsThe Station crew members will mix colloid samples evenly and allow them to sit for several days. Using the Test section, crew members will perform some analyses but the majority of operation will be ground-based observations utilizing cameras installed in EXPPCS software. The EXPPCS hard drive stores all data for downlinking and post-flight analysis. Remote operation takes place from the Telescience Support Center at Glenn Research Center and at Harvard University.
Results are discussed by class of colloid material studied. Analyses are still
under way.
Binary colloidal crystals: These alloy samples are dispersions of two differently sized particles in an index-matching fluid. Two samples were studied: an AB13 crystal structure and an AB6 crystal structure. Due to a hardware failure late in Expedition 4, the AB6 experiment was not completed.
Unexpected ?power law? growth behavior that is still under investigation was observed in the AB13 crystal structure sample.
Colloid-polymer mixtures: These mixtures induce a weak attractive interaction that allows precise tuning of the phase behavior of the mixtures, and approximate the phase separation below the critical point of a gas-liquid mixture. The phase behavior is controlled by the concentration of the colloid, the concentration of the polymer, and the relative size of the colloid and the polymer. The results from the ISS experiments studied the spinodal decomposition, or phase separation near the critical point, unencumbered by density differences of the phases. The growth of the phase separation was studied using both light scattering and imaging. Without gravity, the phase separation took 30 times longer than on Earth. The sample was mixed, then phase separation began, gradually coarsening until the container walls interacted with the mixture (at 42 hours) and the colloid-rich phase wet the container wall, completely coating it after 60 hours. Because the results follow very similar time evolution as a shallow quench of a binary liquid, they provide insight into the importance of the length scale of colloidal gels; separation depends more on coarsening rates than initial colloid size. (Bailey et al. 2007).
Colloid-polymer gels: This sample was expected to be in a fluid-cluster state, but unexpectedly formed a solid gel. The elastic modulus, which was estimated using the experiment's rheology capabilities, will be compared to ground samples. "Aging" characteristics of this gel were found to be similar to those formed on Earth.
Colloid-polymer critical point: Immediately after mixing, the colloid-polymer critical point sample began to
separate into two phases?one that resembled a gas and one that resembled a liquid, except that the particles were colloids and not atoms. The colloid-poor regions (the colloidal ?gas? phase) grew bigger until, finally, complete phase separation was achieved and there was just one region of each?a colloid-rich phase and a colloid-poor phase. None of this behavior can be observed in the sample on Earth because sedimentation would cause the colloids to fall to the bottom of the cell faster than the de-mixing process could occur. Knowledge gained from these runs was used to develop the BCAT-3 later operated on ISS.
Fractal gels: Fractal gels may form when charged colloids have their electrostatic repulsions screened out by the addition of a salt solution, permitting aggregation. These can be formed at very low volume fractions and form highly tenuous aggregates that exhibit a remarkable scaling property, their structure appears the same on all length scales up to a cluster size, and so can be described as a fractal. It was thought that the samples studied (colloidal polystyrene and silica gel) would, in the absence of sedimentation effects, ultimately form a continuous network of fractal aggregate; the polystyrene fractal sample never fully gelled as expected, however. Initial indications are that the volume fraction tested was too low. Large fractal clusters did nevertheless grow (larger than they do on Earth), allowing measurement of the internal vibration modes of these structures. The silica gel is thought to have gelled, and is currently being evaluated.
Colloidal glass: These samples are still under evaluation. Comparison to samples formed in one-g in the laboratory
were needed to understand whether the crystallization observed was due to poor mixing or was a true microgravity phenomena. (Evans et al. 2009)