Materials processing in magnetic levitation furnaces

The magnetic levitation for diamagnetic materials provides a quasi-microgravity condition and enables containerless melting for materials synthesis. Laser furnaces have been developed and containerless melting experiments under the magnetic levitation condition were performed so far. In order to perform a homogeneous heating of a levitating sample, which was difficult in laser furnaces, a new magnetic levitation furnace has been developed using an electric furnace. Spherical samples of a cycloolefin polymer were obtained by using this furnace under the magnetic levitation condition.