Abstract
We study the high-pressure strength of Pb and Pb-4wt%Sb at the National Ignition Facility. We measure Rayleigh-Taylor growth of preformed ripples ramp compressed to peak pressure, among the highest-pressure strength measurements ever reported on any platform. We find agreement with 2D simulations using the Improved Steinberg-Guinan strength model for body-centered-cubic Pb; the Pb-4wt%Sb alloy behaves similarly within the error bars. The combination of high-rate, pressure-induced hardening and polymorphism yield an average inferred flow stress of at high pressure, a -fold increase, changing Pb from soft to extremely strong.
- Received 26 February 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.205701
© 2019 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Viewpoint
Soft Metal Gains Hulk-Like Strength
Published 11 November 2019
When rapidly compressed to planetary-core pressures, lead—a soft metal—becomes 10 times stronger than high-grade steel.
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