Dynamic Shock Wave-Induced Switchable Phase Transition of Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate

To date, even though a large number of shock wave-induced irreversible crystal-crystal phase transitions have been reported over the past few decades, switchable phase transitions of solid-state materials by dynamic shock waves remain quite unknown. Also, attainment of switchable phase transitions is a somewhat difficult task as compared to the irreversible phase transitions. Hence, experiments on switchable phase transitions arising out of materials and the related publications are always considered to be valuable assets for materials researchers so as to gain an enhanced understanding of the behavior of materials and their probable applications. Moreover, materials of switchable phase transitions have an enormous number of spectacular industrial applications. In the present framework, we have presented and demonstrated the switchable phase transition of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate (MgSO4.7H(2)O) at shocked conditions, and the switching behavior has been screened by diffraction, vibrational spectroscopic, and optical spectroscopic techniques, namely, X-ray diffraction, Raman scattering, and ultraviolet-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS)analyses, respectively. All the observed results clearly reveal that the switchable phase transition is achieved at dynamic shock wave-loaded conditions. The interesting aspects of the present experimental results with respect to the number of shock pulses are discussed in the upcoming sections.