Compressibility of Eleven Inorganic Materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Solid State Physics
• Geophysics

Background:

• Understanding material compressibility under high pressure is crucial for various scientific and engineering applications.
• Previous studies have explored the mechanical properties of inorganic solids, but comprehensive data across a range of materials at high pressures is still needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically measure the volume compression of eleven diverse inorganic materials subjected to pressures up to 10,000 atmospheres.
• To determine the coefficients of an empirical equation describing the volume compression behavior of these materials.

Main Methods:

• High-pressure volume compression measurements were conducted on eleven inorganic materials.
• Pressures were applied up to a maximum of 10,000 atmospheres.
• An empirical equation, -ΔV/V = a(P - 2000) + b(P - 2000)^2, was used to fit the compression data, and coefficients 'a' and 'b' were determined.

Main Results:

• Coefficients 'a' (in units of 10^-6 atm^-1) and 'b' (in units of 10^-10 atm^-2) were determined for each material.
• Metals like Monel and alloys like Waspalloy showed low compressibility (a=0.62-0.65, b=0).
• Ceramics such as sapphire and rutile also exhibited low compressibility (a=0.34-0.46, b=0), while sulfides and borates (e.g., BaS, CaS, B2O3, H3BO3, As2O3, As2S3) displayed higher compressibility and significant non-linear behavior (positive 'a' and negative 'b' values).

Conclusions:

• The study provides valuable quantitative data on the compressibility of a range of inorganic materials under high pressure.
• The determined coefficients allow for the prediction of volume changes in these materials within the studied pressure range.
• The results highlight the diverse compressibility responses of inorganic solids, with significant non-linear compression observed in certain oxides and sulfides.