Low-friction, anhydrous, low- to high-temperature furnace sample assembly for piston-cylinder apparatus

A newly designed furnace assembly for piston-cylinder, high-pressure apparatus uses NaCl or KBr rather than hydrous materials such as talc or pyrophyllite. Unlike previous designs, our cell can be used hundreds of degrees above the melting temperatures of the salts. This cell requires little or no pressure correction and provides conditions that are free of H2 and H2O. The electrical power requirements are only about 60% of that for talc furnace assemblies, resulting in cooler operation and longer life for the steel and carbide in the pistons and pressure vessels.