Compression and shear on lead in a rotational diamond anvil cell

By application of large plastic shear on a lead sample in a rotational diamond anvil cell, we studied the pressure self-multiplication and the stress deviation phenomena, along with the consequential effects on a phase transformation of lead. It is indicated that pressure can be promoted by the gradual addition of shear. The stress deviation in the sample along different Chi angles is minimal and within the systematic error range. It is thus specified that a quasi-hydrostatic condition is generated in the sample chamber. Moreover surprisingly, under such shear-controlled pressure elevation, the lead fcc-to-hcp phase transformation pressure is found to initiate and complete, respectively, at 12.8 and 18.5 GPa, which is identical to those observed in hydrostatic compressions. The phenomena of the so-launched quasi-hydrostatic pressure, the self-multiplication, along with the consequential effects on the phase transformation properties by shear at pressures are expected to lead to further understanding of materials as well as to potential new technologies at extremes.