Time resolved studies of phase transformations using high temperature powder diffraction

A high temperature furnace (up to 1500 C) has been designed specifically for use with high-energy synchrotron radiation using Debeye-Scherrer transmission geometry. This allows for full bulk sampling and a low thermal gradient (< 1 C/mm) and a controlled environment (inert to oxidizing). Unlike flat plate geometry, the transmission geometry allows for solid-liquid as well as solid-solid phase transitions to be explored. A comparison between image plate and charged-coupled detector (CCD) system will be discussed. The potential is to collect quantifiable powder patterns under a second. Data collected on the tetragonal to cubic transition in the RhTi systems demonstrate the capabilities for performing quantitative time resolved high temperature powder diffraction.