Institute of Earth Sciences Experimental Lab
Piston cylinder apparatus
The piston cylinder apparatus is a high pressure-temperature internally heated solid medium device used for petrological experiments (phase-transition, reactions, melting). We use a “Boyd & England” type endloaded piston-cylinder with a 12.7 mm (1/2”) piston bore. We use NaCl and NaCl-pyrex-MgO/BN assemblies with straight graphite or steel furnaces and commonly K- and S-type thermocouples.
Pressure range: 0.5 – 4 GPa
Temperature range: up to 1800°C
Piston ram: 80 tons
End-load ram: 250 tons
Assembly: NaCl, NaCl-Pyrex-MgO/BN, Talc-Pyrex-Al2O3/BN
Sample capacity: Up to three 2.3mm capsules or single 4mm capsule
Cold Seal Pressure Vessels
“Cold Seals” are externally heated pressure devices that are operated with gas/fluid confining medium. Our laboratory is presently equipped with six vessels employing a “cold-seal” design.
Pressure: up to 600 Mpa (300MPa at T > 750°C)
Pressure medium: H2O
Temperature up to 900 °C
Recommended maximum capsule size: 40 x 5 mm
One-Atmosphere Gas Mixing Furnaces
In addition to high temperature box furnaces, we use two vertical gas mixing furnaces for heating at controlled oxygen fugacities. They allow experiments and the synthesis of starting materials over a wide range of redox conditions. The gas atmosphere can be adjusted using CO2 – CO mixtures at temperatures up to 1100°C to simulate reducing or moderately oxidizing conditions.
Sample Material and Assembly preparation
We are equipped with all necessary equipment to manufacture our assemblies and staring materials, next door to the experimental labs:
– 25t Hydraulic Press (assembly parts, rock crushing)
– Pillar drilling machine (also used for water-cooled coring of samples)
– Lathe (assembly parts, equipment modifications)
– Welders (fine-welder (PUK), gas-welders)
– Precision slow-saw
– High-precision Diamond wire saw equipped with goniometer (up to 5x5x3cm sample size and 0.15 – 0.3 mm cutting-wire diameter)
– Chemistry preparation lab
