A recent computational methodology was applied here in order to analyze the impact of free surfaces on the measurement of the interdiffusion coefficients if shear cells were used. Calculations indicated that the above-mentioned impact depended upon the intensity of the solutal Marangoni convection but mainly upon the number of active Marangoni segments, that was to say, upon the extent of the free surface considered. Bulk solutal convection due to reduced gravity levels was not relevant if the gravity vector acts orthogonally to the gradient of concentration.

Diffusion Coefficient Measurements Under Reduced Gravity Conditions by Means of the Shear Cell Technique. The Impact of Free Surfaces. X.Ruiz, J.Pallarés: Microgravity Science and Technology, 2011, 23[2], 173-80