Oxidation of high yield strength metals tungsten and rhenium in high-pressure high-temperature experiments of carbon dioxide and carbonates

Abstract

The laser-heating diamond-anvil cell technique enables direct investigations of materials under high pressures and temperatures, usually confining the samples with high yield strength W and Re gaskets. This work presents experimental data that evidences the chemical reactivity between these refractory metals and CO2 or carbonates at temperatures above 1300◦ C and pressures above 6 GPa. Metal oxides and diamond are identified as reaction products. Recommendations to minimize non-desired chemical reactions in high-pressure high-temperature experiments are given.