One-Atmosphere Gas Mixing Laboratory

The Department of Mineral Sciences maintains two vertical Deltech DT-31-VTHN-C one- atmosphere gas-mixing furnaces. The furnaces operate from room temperature to 1800°C and the partial pressure of oxygen within the furnace can be precisely controlled over ~10 orders of magnitude by CO-CO₂ gas mixtures. Materials subjected to high temperature can be rapidly quenched to room temperature or to a water bath while remaining in the controlled atmosphere by means of a remotely operated integrated drop-quench system.

The lab also features the following capabilities:

• Puk3 Professional Welder with neutral Ar gas flow and precision-welding with microscope assistance
• Capability to evacuate and seal silica glass tubing
• Noble metal wire and tubing and ceramics for encapsulation

The furnaces are in routine use for investigation of phase equilibria, geochemical kinetics, and redox processes in planetary materials.