RESISTANCE AND ENTHALPY OF REFRACTORY EXPLODING WIRES.

A pulsed oscilloscope method has been used to measure the relative electrical resistance R/R//0 as a function of the enthalpy H for Zr, Hf, Nb, Mo, W, and Pt as the wire samples are heated by current pulses with t//3 equals 400-500 and 30-35 mu sec. The values of R/R//0 and H for the solid and liquid phases of these metals are measured at the boiling point and at the temperature corresponding to the beginning of the electrical explosion, T//3. The temperature T//3, which is identified as being approximately equal to the critical temperature, is evaluated.