Pressure generation to 50 GPa in Kawai-type multianvil apparatus using newly developed tungsten carbide anvils

ABSTRACT

A pressure generation test for Kawai-type multianvil apparatus (KMA) has been made using second-stage anvils of a newly developed ultra-hard tungsten carbide composite. Superb performance of the new anvil with significantly less plastic deformation was confirmed as compared to those commonly used for the KMA experiments. A maximum pressure of ∼48 GPa was achieved using the new anvils with a truncation edge length (TEL) of 1.5 mm, based on in situ X-ray diffraction measurements. Further optimization of materials and sizes of the pressure medium/gasket should lead to pressures even higher than 50 GPa in KMA using this novel tungsten carbide composite, which may also be used for expansion of the pressure ranges in other types of high pressure apparatus operated in large volume press.

KEYWORDS:

• High pressure generation
• Kawai-type multianvil apparatus
• tungsten carbide anvil
• sintered diamond anvil
• large volume press

Acknowledgements

In situ X-ray diffraction experiments were carried out at SPring-8, BL04B1 (Proposal No. 2010B2063, 2011B2096, 2013A1364, and 2015A2064).

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by JSPS Kakenhi [15H05829, 25220712, and 26800236].