Phase Relations of Earth’s Core-Forming Materials
Tetsuya Komabayashi
Abstract
Recent updates on phase relations of Earth’s core-forming materials, Fe alloys, as a function of pressure (P), temperature (T), and composition (X) are reviewed for the Fe, Fe-Ni, Fe-O, Fe-Si, Fe-S, Fe-C, Fe-H, Fe-Ni-Si, and Fe-Si-O systems. Thermodynamic models for these systems are highlighted where available, starting with 1 bar to high-P-T conditions. For the Fe and binary systems, the longitudinal wave velocity and density of liquid alloys are discussed and compared with the seismological observations on Earth’s outer core. This review may serve as a guide for future research on the planetary cores.
Topics & Concepts
Earth (classical element)Core (optical fiber)Materials sciencePhase (matter)Outer coreRare earthInner coreThermodynamicsMetallurgyChemistryPhysicsComposite materialOrganic chemistryMathematical physicsHigh-pressure geophysics and materialsGeological and Geochemical Analysisearthquake and tectonic studies