Rockland Research - Walker Multi Anvil

Multi-anvil systems can achieve pressures of 250 kbar and temperatures to 3000°C. The sample is placed in a hole (purple colored area figure A) within a pressure medium shaped into an octahedron and fabricated from alumina, pyrophyllite or some other ceramic material, as shown in the opened view to the left. The faces of the octahedron seat against the truncated corners (orange colored area figure A) of eight tungsten carbide (WC) cubic anvils. The cubes in turn are nested within split-spherical or cylindrical seats fabricated from tool steel and sectioned into segments that fit into a massively supported guide-block. Until recently, these systems were heavy and cumbersome, requiring very large presses and a considerable effort to operate them up to their design pressures.

The main obstacles to research on bulk materials at pressures of 50-250 kbar have been eliminated as a result of simplifications to multi-anvil design and technique recently introduced by Dr. David Walker at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. As illustrated in the schematic cross-section below, and in the photographs of the Walker module, a cylindrical cluster of wedges is used to seat the tungsten carbide anvils (C). The wedges are loose and free to float within their supporting ring. Massive support of the cluster is not used; rather, the elastic strain during loading is taken up directly by the supporting ring.

Module with upper pressure plate removed, showing the top cluster of three cylindrical wedges installed over the WC cubes. Knobs mounted on outer shield permit easy maneuvering for positioning of the module in the press. Port between knobs provides access for strain gauges

Module, with pressure plates installed, in the press. Wires lead to internal module connectors for attachment of sample assembly thermocouple(s). Power for the sample heater passes through the cubes and top and bottom pressure plates, which are electrically isolated.