The effect of pressure and fast neutron irradiation on the thermal expansion coefficients of graphite crystals

✍ Scribed by B.T. Kelly

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1981
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 250 KB
• Volume: 19
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-6223(81)90109-3

✦ Synopsis

Ahstraet-Large changes in the interlayer spacing of a graphite crystal can be obtained by the application of pressure or by fast neutron irradiation. In the latter case, it is well known that the thermal expansion coefficient parallel to the hexagonal axis ((I,) decreases substantially, while the expansion coefficient parallel to the basal planes a, changes (at ambient) from a small negative to a small positive value. No measurements of the effects of pressure have been reported. A simple model of the interlayer forces which agrees well with experiment is used to calculate the effect of interlayer contraction (pressure) and expansion (irradiation) on the expansion coefficient a, and the latter compared with experiment. Consideration is given to changes in a,.