Influence of Impurities on the Solid-Solid Phase Transitions in Zirconium

In an effort to better understand the influence of impurities on the solid-solid phase transitions in Group IVb metals, experiments have been carried out in zirconium using plate impact and isentropic loading techniques. Samples with three levels of impurities were shock-loaded using both gas and powder-driven guns and isentropically loaded using magnetic drive (Sandia's Z-Machine) to determine the properties and characteristics of both the $\alpha-\omega$ and $\omega-\beta$ transitions. In addition to the transmission type experiments that were performed in the past, front surface impact experiments --- where the sample is impacted directly onto a LiF window --- were performed to obtain direct Hugoniot measurements in both the $\omega$ and $\beta$ phases. Comparisons of all data obtained to calculations using our current Equation of State will be presented.