A new capsule technique for hydrothermal experiments using the piston-cylinder apparatus

Journal Article · · American Mineralogist; (United States)

OSTI ID:6909675

Ayers, J C; Brenan, J B; Watson, E B; Wark, D A; Minarik, W G ^[1]

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1. Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (United States)

A new capsule technique has been developed to maintain a constant sample geometry at the high pressures and temperatures obtainable with a piston-cylinder apparatus. The capsule consists of a thick-walled transition metal cylinder, open on one end, and an inner noble metal sleeve. A noble metal lid welds to the capsule during cold pressurization, eliminating the need for arc welding to seal the loaded capsule. The high strength of the thick-walled capsules protects delicate samples such as single crystals during pressurization. At high temperature and pressure capsules shorten in the direction of compression but deform homogeneously. Pressure calibrations show that the pressure correction for the assembly is negligible. Ni powder can be used to buffer the f[sub O[sub 2]] in an aqueous charge at NNO for > 24 h at 1,000C. Applications of the capsule technique to hydrothermal experiments on single crystals are discussed. These experiments allow measurement of mineral solubilities, partition coefficients, and diffusion coefficients in minerals. Thick-walled capsules are also useful for experiments that require constant sample geometry, such as diffusion couples and textural studies.

• OSTI ID: 6909675
• Journal Information: American Mineralogist; (United States), Journal Name: American Mineralogist; (United States) Vol. 77:9-10; ISSN AMMIAY; ISSN 0003-004X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
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58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CONTAINERS
CRYSTALS
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HIGH PRESSURE
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MINERALS
MONOCRYSTALS
PARTITION
PRESSURE EFFECTS
PRESSURE VESSELS
PRESSURIZATION
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SOLUBILITY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS