Ultrahigh pressure-temperature apparatus

Claim 1

In a high-pressure-temperature apparatus for subjecting an object to high pressure, comprising: (a) a pair of opposed, tapered, electrically conductive pistons; (b) a lateral, pressure-resisting annulus, positioned between the opposed pistons and coaxial therewith, provided with a substantially central aperture circumferentially surrounding the object to be subjected to high pressure, the annulus having a pressureresisting inner wall surface; and (c) a thermal and electrical insulating gasket positioned in the aperture of the lateral pressure-resisting annulus and circumferentially surrounding the tapered pistons, the invention which comprises the provision of a vertical cylindrical shape for the pressure-resisting inner wall surface of the pressure-resisting annulus, and in combination therewith (1) a first adiabatic, electrically nonconductive, thermostable, hollow cylinder, positioned within the aperture of the lateral, pressure-resisting annulus, and circumferentially surrounding the object to be subjected to high pressure, said first adiabatic, electrically nonconductive, thermostable, hollow cylinder consisting essentially of thorium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide, or mixtures thereof; (2) a pair of adiabatic, thermostable discs, one disc being positioned above and one disc being positioned below the object to be subjected to high pressure, between said object and the opposed pistons; said discs being of such diameter as to allow the passage of electrical current from one piston to the other piston through the object to be subjected to high pressure, said adiabatic, thermostable discs consisting essentially of thorium oxide, zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide, or mixtures thereof; (3) a pair of electrically conductive rings, each ring surrounding one of the adiabatic thermostable discs and being in electrical contact with one of the opposed pistons; (4) a pair of electrically conductive discs, one electrically conductive disc being positioned above and one electrically conductive disc being positioned below the object to be subjected to high pressure, between said object and the adiabatic thermostable discs, each of said electrically conductive discs being electrically in contact with one of the electrically conductive rings and with the object to be subjected to high pressure; (5) a second adiabatic, electrically nonconductive, thermostable, hollow cylinder, positioned within the aperture of the lateral pressure resisting annulus and circumferentially surrounding (a) the first adiabatic, electrically nonconductive, thermostable, hollow cylinder; (b) the adiabatic, thermostable discs; (c) the electrically conductive rings; (d) the electrically conductive discs; and (e) the object to be subjected to high pressure; said second adiabatic, electrically nonconductive, thermostable, hollow cylinder consisting essentially of zirconium oxide, pyrophyllite, or mixtures thereof; and (6) a metallic hollow cylinder, positioned within the aperture of the lateral pressureresisting annulus and circumferentially surrounding the second adiabatic, electrically nonconductive, thermostable, hollow cylinder.