Studying the dynamic phase transitions in tin with impact experiments on pre-heated samples

The dynamic $\beta $-$\gamma $ transition in high-purity tin (Sn) has been studied in a series of VISAR-instrumented plate impact experiments in which pre-heated $\beta $-Sn samples of different, 0.5 to 5 mm, thickness were shock-transformed into $\gamma $-phase. The initial sample temperature was varied from room temperature up to 505 K (melting point). The experiments allowed pressure-temperature mapping of the upper boundary of the existence of tin $\beta $-phase, while varying the sample thickness gave access to information about the transformation kinetics. The resulting $\beta $-$\gamma $ boundary is compared with that obtained in static and dynamic experiments. Comparisons between experimental results and hydrodynamic calculations are made.