Microtexture of shock reaction products of niobium and silica mixtures

Shock compression experiments on powder mixtures of niobium metal and quart z were conducted for the pressure range of 30-40 GPa by a 25-mm single-stag e propellant gun. Chemical reaction occurred above 35 GPa, and products wer e found to be mainly so-called "Cu3Au-type" Nb3Si, which contained a small amount of oxygen. Microtextures of the specimen were examined by scanning a nd transmission electron microscopy. A field-emission transmission electron microscope was used for energy-dispersive x-ray analysis of microtextures in small particles found in the SiO2 matrix, and various species with diffe rent Nb/Si ratio and oxygen content were shown to be produced through the n onequilibrium process of shock compression.