Finite element analysis of electroresistive heating of a high pressure apparatus for studying the solubility of GaN in Fe

The advantages and disadvantages of methods for gallium nitride crystals production are considered. The convergence of the solution of the problem of electroresistive heating at determination of a thermal condition of the high pressure apparatus cell is investigated. The thermal state of the high pressure apparatus cell used to determine the solubility of gallium nitride in iron has been modeled and investigated. It is determined that the combined discretization with the use of triangular and quadrangular elements allows to reduce the time of solving the coupled problem of electrical and thermal conductivity under these conditions. The results of calculations are presented by steady temperature fields in various elements of the device. It was obtained that at the temperature in the cell control point of 1800 °С its axial difference in the volume of the investigated sample of iron was 62 °С , the maximum difference was 156 °С. The simulated cell configuration and the heating conditions defined for it are acceptable for experimental studies of the solubility of GaN in contact with Fe under conditions of high pressures and temperatures.

Experimental Modeling of Ankerite–Pyrite Interaction under Lithospheric Mantle P–T Parameters: Implications for Graphite Formation as a Result of Ankerite Sulfidation

Experimental modeling of ankerite–pyrite interaction was carried out on a multi-anvil high-pressure apparatus of a “split sphere” type (6.3 GPa, 1050–1550 °C, 20–60 h). At T ≤ 1250 °C, the formation of pyrrhotite, dolomite, magnesite, and metastable graphite was established. At higher temperatures, the generation of two immiscible melts (carbonate and sulfide ones), as well as graphite crystallization and diamond growth on seeds, occurred. It was established that the decrease in iron concentration in ankerite occurs by extraction of iron by sulfide and leads to the formation of pyrrhotite or sulfide melt, with corresponding ankerite breakdown into dolomite and magnesite. Further redox interaction of Ca,Mg,Fe carbonates with pyrrhotite (or between carbonate and sulfide melts) results in the carbonate reduction to C0 and metastable graphite formation (±diamond growth on seeds). It was established that the ankerite–pyrite interaction, which can occur in a downgoing slab, involves ankerite sulfidation that triggers further graphite-forming redox reactions and can be one of the scenarios of the elemental carbon formation under subduction settings.

Structural and Compositional Features of Garnet-Containing Samples Synthesized in a System with Samarium at High Pressure and High Temperature

A distinctive feature of garnets associated with diamonds is specific containing of “light” rare earth elements. In the paper, the garnet-containing samples obtained at high pressure and high temperature in the system introduced with samarium (Sm) are studied. The experiments are carried out using a multianvil high-pressure apparatus of the “split-sphere” type (BARS) at a pressure of 5 GPa and a temperature of 1300 °С. The accuracy of measuring the pressure and temperature is ± 0.2 GPa и ± 25 °С, respectively. As a result, pyrope grains are synthesized with a CaO content no higher than 0.15 wt.% and Cr2O3 concentration within the range of 3.61-7.55 wt.%. The garnets are characterized by the stable presence of an impurity in the form of the Sm constituent. The garnets contain a significant amount of olivine inclusions. Crystals of the synthesized spinel are observed mainly in the interstices. This study demonstrates that the interaction of the components in the serpentine — chromite — corundum — Sm system leads to the crystallization of pyrope garnet, which forms large intergrowths of individual grains. The zoning observed in garnet is due to the transfer of components by fluid during the experiment. It is concluded that the Sm content in garnet can significantly increase depending on its content in the system.

A Bio-Based Alginate Aerogel as an Ionic Liquid Support for the Efficient Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from CO2 and Epoxides

In this work, the ionic liquid [Aliquat][Cl] was supported into alginate and silica aerogel matrices and applied as a catalyst in the cycloaddition reaction between CO2 and a bio-based epoxide (limonene oxide). The efficiency of the alginate aerogel system is much higher than that of the silica one. The method of wet impregnation was used for the impregnation of the aerogel with [Aliquat][Cl] and a zinc complex. The procedure originated a well-defined thin solvent film on the surface of support materials. Final materials were characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, N2 Adsorption–Desorption Analysis, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption and Field Emission Scanning Microscopy. Several catalytic tests were performed in a high-pressure apparatus at 353.2 K and 4 MPa of CO2.

Probing Phase Transitions and Magnetism in Minerals with Neutrons

The development of sophisticated sample environments to control temperature, pressure, and magnetic field has grown in parallel with neutron source and instrumentation development. High-pressure apparatus, with high- and low-temperature capability, novel designs for diamond cells, and large volume presses are matched with next-generation neutron sources and moderator designs to provide unprecedented neutron beam brightness. Recent developments in sample environments are expanding the pressure–temperature space accessible to neutron scattering experiments. Researchers are using new capabilities and an increased understanding of the fundamentals of structural and magnetic transitions to explore new territories, including hydrogenous minerals (e.g., ices and hydrates) and magnetic structural phase diagrams.

Features of the internal structure of high-pressure metal-diamond composites

In the present work, composites were obtained by sintering a metal-diamond charge at a pressure of 4 GPa and a temperature of 1300°C. the experiments were carried out on a high-pressure apparatus of the split sphere “bars” type. Synthetic microcrystals of industrial synthesis were used as a diamond. The initial metal component for the experiments was copper and iron. it was shown that when sintering at high pressure, diamond crystals are tightly packed in the composite, while the metal phase completely fills the intergranular space, acting as a matrix. chemical analysis of the metal component of the samples revealed the presence of the following phases: copper-iron alloy, iron oxide and iron carbide. the results obtained indicate that several processes occur simultaneously in the diamond-copper-iron-oxygen system at high pressures and temperatures, which can significantly affect the characteristics of the resulting composite as a whole.

Experimental Investigation of Diopside Melt Viscosity at High Pressure

This paper presents the experimental evaluation of viscosity of the diopside-based model composition conducted at high P-T parameters (at the pressure of 4 GPa and in the temperature range of 1750°C - 1800°C) in the presence of olivine crystals. The experiments are carried out using the multi-anvil high-pressure apparatus of the “split-sphere” type (Russian acronym — BARS) according to the falling sphere method. The traveling time of a platinum (Pt) sphere in a melt is one of the parameters measured in experiments. Measurement of this parameter starts when the given P-T values are attained and stops when the electric current is turned off. There are three main positions of the Pt sphere observed in the experiments. Viscosity is calculated using the Stokes’ Law. It is found out that the Pt sphere velocity decreases expectedly as the relative viscosity of such heterogeneous compositions (liquid + solid phase) increases (in contrast to homogeneous melts). Viscosity values remain low when there is up to 7-10 wt-% of solid phase crystals in magma. The increase of olivine xenocrysts in magma leads to the progressive increase of viscosity values of the melt: by 1.5-2 orders of magnitude at 20-25 wt-%, by 3-3.5 orders of magnitude at 35-40 wt-%. The obtained experimental results allow concluding that the amount of solid phase in magma should be sufficiently low (less than 20-30 wt-%), otherwise, melts of the investigated composition can be moved only by explosive processes.

Decarbonation Reactions Involving Ankerite and Dolomite under upper Mantle P,T-Parameters: Experimental Modeling

An experimental study aimed at the modeling of dolomite- and ankerite-involving decarbonation reactions, resulting in the CO2 fluid release and crystallization of Ca, Mg, Fe garnets, was carried out at a wide range of pressures and temperatures of the upper mantle. Experiments were performed using a multi-anvil high-pressure apparatus of a “split-sphere” type, in CaMg(CO3)2-Al2O3-SiO2 and Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO3)2-Al2O3-SiO2 systems (pressures of 3.0, 6.3 and 7.5 GPa, temperature range of 950–1550 °C, hematite buffered high-pressure cell). It was experimentally shown that decarbonation in the dolomite-bearing system occurred at 1100 ± 20 °C (3.0 GPa), 1320 ± 20 °C (6.3 GPa), and 1450 ± 20 °C (7.5 GPa). As demonstrated by mass spectrometry, the fluid composition was pure CO2. Composition of synthesized garnet was Prp83Grs17, with main Raman spectroscopic modes at 368–369, 559–562, and 912–920 cm−1. Decarbonation reactions in the ankerite-bearing system were realized at 1000 ± 20 °C (3.0 GPa), 1250 ± 20 °C (6.3 GPa), and 1400 ± 20 °C (7.5 GPa). As a result, the garnet of Grs25Alm40Prp35 composition with main Raman peaks at 349–350, 552, and 906–907 cm−1 was crystallized. It has been experimentally shown that, in the Earth’s mantle, dolomite and ankerite enter decarbonation reactions to form Ca, Mg, Fe garnet + CO2 assemblage at temperatures ~175–500 °C lower than CaCO3 does at constant pressures.

Formation of Spessartine and CO2 via Rhodochrosite Decarbonation along a Hot Subduction P-T Path

Experimental simulation of rhodochrosite-involving decarbonation reactions resulting in the formation of spessartine and CO2-fluid was performed in a wide range of pressures (P) and temperatures (T) corresponding to a hot subduction P-T path. Experiments were carried out using a multi-anvil high-pressure apparatus of a “split-sphere” type (BARS) in an MnCO3–SiO2–Al2O3 system (3.0–7.5 GPa, 850–1250 °C and 40–100 h.) with a specially designed high-pressure hematite buffered cell. It was experimentally demonstrated that decarbonation in the MnCO3–SiO2–Al2O3 system occurred at 870 ± 20 °C (3.0 GPa), 1070 ± 20 °C (6.3 GPa), and 1170 ± 20 °C (7.5 GPa). Main Raman spectroscopic modes of the synthesized spessartine were 349–350 (R), 552(υ2), and 906–907 (υ1) cm−1. As evidenced by mass spectrometry (IRMS) analysis, the fluid composition corresponded to pure CO2. It has been experimentally shown that rhodochrosite consumption to form spessartine + CO2 can occur at conditions close to those of a hot subduction P-T path but are 300–350 °C lower than pyrope + CO2 formation parameters at constant pressures. We suppose that the presence of rhodocrosite in the subducting slab, even as solid solution with Mg,Ca-carbonates, would result in a decrease of the decarbonation temperatures. Rhodochrosite decarbonation is an important reaction to explain the relationship between Mn-rich garnets and diamonds with subduction/crustal isotopic signature.