Tiangongs High-Temperature Materials Rack Completes Alloy Solidification Experiments
Summary: On July 24, 2026, Chinas CMSEO announced that the high-temperature materials experiment rack in the Tianhe core module successfully completed microgravity solidification experiments on 12 metal alloys, providing critical data for advanced materials R&D.
On July 24, 2026, Chinas Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) officially announced that the high-temperature materials experiment rack installed aboard the Tianhe core module has successfully completed solidification experiments on 12 metal alloys under microgravity conditions. The rack is a key component of the material science research platform on the China Space Station, capable of simulating the melting and solidification processes of materials in the microgravity environment of space.
According to CMSEO, the experiments covered a range of high-performance alloy materials, with the goal of studying the physical mechanisms governing alloy solidification in microgravity. On Earth, gravity-induced convection, sedimentation, and other effects significantly influence the microstructure of alloys. The space microgravity environment eliminates these interfering factors, allowing scientists to observe more pristine solidification behavior and providing valuable references for optimizing material processing techniques on the ground.
The high-temperature materials experiment rack features high-temperature melting capabilities and precise temperature control, enabling full-process operations including in-orbit sample heating, thermal soaking, and cooling. The critical data obtained from these experiments will guide the development of new high-performance alloy materials for use in aerospace, energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors, advancing Chinas space-based materials science research to a new level. The specific alloy types and detailed technical parameters are expected to be disclosed by the relevant authorities at a later date.