Zero gravity produced materials

[Ivan Seeking]

For years I heard all sorts of promises about materials made in space. An alloy of lead and aluminum was often mentioned as a favorite. What is the state of this technology? Are things looking as good as promised?

[ZapperZ]

For years I heard all sorts of promises about materials made in space. An alloy of lead and aluminum was often mentioned as a favorite. What is the state of this technology? Are things looking as good as promised?

There have been ZERO useful information that has been gained out of materials processing in zero G. Gravity is just way too weak to affect materials crystalization and fabrication, inspite of what was sold to the public as potential science application of the space shuttle and the international space station. Most material scientists and condensed matter physicists have never supported this kind of "research".

http://www.aps.org/WN/WN03/wn103103.cfm

Zz.