Summary
Empa is researching novel metallic glasses – amorphous metals with exceptional properties – aboard the International Space Station in collaboration with the European Space Agency. These materials are as hard as quartz glass, elastic, and corrosion-resistant, but are difficult to manufacture in larger components. Through experiments in the microgravity of the ISS, researchers can precisely examine the physical properties of liquid metal alloys without Earth's gravity distorting measurements. The insights gained are already being used by industrial partners such as Swiss PX Group to optimize manufacturing processes and are expected to advance the development of reliable mechanisms for satellites.
People
Topics
- Materials Science
- Space Research
- Metallurgy
- Watch Industry
- Satellite Development
Clarus Lead
Swiss researchers are using the weightlessness of the International Space Station to optimize the production of metallic glasses – materials that push the boundaries of conventional metallurgy. These amorphous metals combine hardness with elasticity and could enable revolutionary applications in medicine, watchmaking, and space technology. The central challenge: On Earth, gravity prevents precise measurements of liquid metal droplets. In space, this obstacle disappears – opening entirely new possibilities for discovery.
Clarus Own Analysis
Clarus Research: The ESA's THERMOPROP project is led by Empa and combines experiments in microgravity with laboratory analysis in Dübendorf and computer simulations. This enables a continuous value chain from basic research to industrial application.
Classification: Metallic glasses represent a paradigm shift: While classical metals solidify crystallinely, these materials can be converted into amorphous structures through ultrarapid cooling. Gravity is a critical interfering factor – not an advantage.
Consequence: The integration of industrial partners (PX Group) in the research project shows that insights from the ISS flow directly into improved manufacturing processes. For decision-makers, this means: space research delivers concrete economic returns in the terrestrial market.
Detailed Summary
Metallic glasses are amorphous metals that form when certain alloys are cooled extremely rapidly from the molten state. Unlike crystalline metals, which solidify in ordered structural patterns, metallic glasses maintain a disordered, glass-like structure. This peculiarity gives them exceptional properties: they are as hard as quartz glass, extremely scratch- and corrosion-resistant, yet simultaneously elastic and deform reversibly – a characteristic that classical metals do not possess.
However, the practical manufacture of larger components from metallic glasses remains a central challenge. Metals "prefer" their natural crystalline form; during the solidification process, they tend to assume it. To stabilize amorphous structures, researchers must work with highly precise processes and complex alloys. A critical obstacle: liquid metal droplets must be examined in suspension, as contact with a crucible triggers crystallization. Electromagnetic fields can achieve this, but Earth's gravity deforms the droplets and distorts measurement results.
Empa and its partners therefore rely on the International Space Station as a research platform. In the THERMOPROP project, researchers led by Antonia Neels examine the physical properties of metallic glasses in microgravity – the near-complete weightlessness in low Earth orbit. Parallel laboratory experiments run in Dübendorf, where the material structure is analyzed using X-ray techniques. Data from the ISS feed into computer simulations, which are used to develop and optimize industrial manufacturing processes.
A Swiss industrial partner – PX Group from La Chaux-de-Fonds – manufactures metallic glasses for the watch industry and uses these materials for precise mechanisms and robust cases. The company has already integrated insights from the project into improved production processes, underscoring the immediate economic relevance of the research.
Beyond terrestrial applications, metallic glasses are also suitable for space technology. Their elasticity and resilience enable the construction of maintenance-free mechanisms for spacecraft and satellites. A second project called SESAME tests material samples under actual space conditions. The experiment was brought to the ISS in November 2024 and installed on the exterior of the European Columbus laboratory module in December. After approximately one year in space, the samples – including those from the Empa team – are to be returned to Earth for analysis.
Researchers want to understand whether prolonged exposure to space conditions alters material structure. This is crucial because structure defines material properties. While individual factors such as temperature fluctuations, vacuum, or radiation can be simulated on Earth, simultaneous reproduction of all conditions is impossible – another reason for the importance of ISS experiments.
The experiments proceed in various phases. Further experiments with liquid metallic glasses are planned for next year. Both projects are expected to continue until the ISS reaches the end of its mission in 2030. The work is being conducted as part of the ESA PRODEX program and is supported by the Swiss Space Office and the PRODEX Office.
Key Messages
Metallic glasses combine hardness with elasticity: They are as hard as quartz glass but reversibly deformable – a property that classical metals do not possess.
Gravity is a measurement error: Earth's gravity distorts measurements on liquid metal droplets; the ISS provides the ideal research environment.
Research with direct industrial application: Insights from ISS experiments flow directly into improved manufacturing processes at PX Group.
Dual benefit: Metallic glasses are suitable for both terrestrial applications (medicine, watches) and maintenance-free mechanisms in satellites.
Long-term perspective: The projects run until 2030 and address fundamental questions about the structure-property relationship of materials.
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Interest | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Empa & Research Institutes | Basic understanding, publications, third-party funding | Actively leading |
| PX Group (Watch Industry) | Optimized manufacturing processes, competitive advantage | Already benefiting |
| Medical Industry | New materials for implants, instruments | Potentially benefiting |
| Space Agencies & Satellite Manufacturers | Reliable, maintenance-free components | Benefiting in future |
| European Space Agency (ESA) | Scientific insights, technology transfer | Coordinating |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| Optimized Manufacturing Processes: ISS data enables more precise control of solidification | High Costs: ISS experiments are expensive; profitability depends on scalability |
| New Markets: Medicine, watches, space technology benefit from improved materials | Technology Transfer Delays: Lab to production often takes years |
| Maintenance-Free Satellite Mechanisms: Longer lifespan, reduced mission costs | Competition: Other countries/companies could research in parallel |
| European Technology Advantage: Swiss/European leadership in materials science | ISS Dependency: Research ends in 2030; no microgravity platform thereafter |
| Industrial Partnership: Direct knowledge transfer to industry | Scaling Problems: Laboratory success doesn't guarantee industrial feasibility |
Action Relevance
For Industry (Materials Processing, Watches, Medicine)
- Action: Monitor ISS project results; early contact with Empa for licensing or collaborations
- Indicators: Publications in peer-reviewed journals, patent filings, production trial series
For Space Companies
- Action: Evaluate metallic glasses for future satellite designs; discussions with ESA on material certifications
- Indicators: SESAME project results (2025), lifespan tests, cost comparisons with classical materials
For Research Institutions
- Action: Preparation for the post-ISS era (2030+); identification of alternative microgravity platforms
- Indicators: Research proposals for commercial space stations, collaborations with private space providers
For Political Decision-Makers
- Action: Secure funding for space materials research; support the Swiss Space Office
- Indicators: Budget continuity through 2030, participation in ESA follow-up programs
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements and figures verified
- [x] Unconfirmed data marked with ⚠️
- [x] Web research for current data conducted
- [x] Bias or political one-sidedness flagged
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on February 2, 2026
Supplementary Research
⚠️ Note: No additional sources provided in metadata. The following aspects could be deepened through external research:
- Market size and growth forecasts for metallic glasses in medicine and watch industry
- Comparative research projects by other countries (USA, Japan, China) on amorphous metals
- Technical specifications of SESAME material samples and expected analysis results
- Cost analysis: ISS experiments vs. terrestrial simulations
- Potential successor platforms after ISS ends in 2030
References
Primary Source:
Empa Press Release – "Metallic Glasses: Materials Research Aboard the ISS" (February 2, 2026)
https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/-Du17x3C9Kutx7qLj1D67
Referenced Publications:
SLJ Thomä, R Zboray, A Chevalier et al.: "Partial crystallization in Pd-BMG systems: From understanding structure towards influencing functionality through temperature-time series"; Journal of Materials Research and Technology (2024); doi: 10.1016/j.jmrt.2024.10.236
F Haag, R Sauget, G Kurtuldu et al.: "Assessing Continuous Casting of Precious Bulk Metallic Glasses"; Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids (2019); doi: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2018.09.035
Contact Persons (Empa, Center for X-ray Analytics):
- Prof. Dr. Antonia Neels ([email protected])
- Dr. Damien Terebenec ([email protected])
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This text was created with assistance from Claude.
Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: February 2, 2026