Phase transformations of disordered structures of graphite-like Boron Nitride under high-temperature shock compression

The pattern of phase transformations in boron nitride under high-temperature shock compression has been studied using a previously proposed method for high-temperature shock-wave synthesis of high-pressure phases followed by rapid quenching. Fine powders of turbostratic and partially ordered graphite-like BN were used as initial structures. Shock compression was carried out in ring devices at a pressure of 30 GPa and a temperature above 2500 K. A mixture of dense phases (wurtzitic and sphaleritic) was found to form from the graphite-like structures under those conditions; the total yield of those phases and the relative amount of the sphaleritic modification are considerably higher when turbostratic BN is the starting material. Both of the dense phases formed have a nanocrystalline grainstructure. The wurtzitic phase does not transform into the sphaleritic phase under those conditions, which points to cubic BN forming directly from the graphite-like structures.