Pressure generation to 80 GPa using multianvil apparatus with sintered diamond anvils

Abstract

Experimental techniques for high-pressure generation have been developed using a multianvil apparatus with sintered diamond (SD) anvils. High-pressure cell assemblies have been optimized for SD anvils using a new Al2O3 pressure medium and baked pyrophyllite gaskets, which has enabled generation of pressures up to 80 GPa at room temperature. High-temperature experiments were also performed using cylindrical and graphite-windowed LaCrO3 furnaces in the Al2O3 pressure medium to be suitable for in situ observations. Temperatures were generated up to 1600 K and stably maintained for more than 1 h at pressures up to 60 GPa. Present techniques using SD anvils can now reproduce the middle region of the Earth's lower mantle without sacrificing the great advantage of multianvil apparatus in stable and reproducible high-pressure and high-temperature generation.