STONE – Spectroscopy Tool to monitor rheology and phase transformation prOcesses in volcaNology and cEramic
The processes of degassing, cooling, and crystallization, as well as the transport processes (of matter and heat) at the micro- and macroscale, which occur during the ascent of magma in the eruptive conduit and during the emplacement of degassed lava flows, are quite similar to those occurring during the melting, sintering, and crystallization of glass in the ceramic and metallurgical industries. The similarity lies not only in the frequent occurrence of silicate glasses and melts, but also in the techniques, technologies, and operational protocols used to estimate the chemical and physico-chemical properties in order to better define the timescales of the aforementioned natural and manufacturing processes.
Both disciplines benefit from the use of complementary technologies capable of monitoring the high-temperature, multiphase evolution of the degassed products resulting from the emplacement dynamics of lava flows or the firing of ceramic artifacts. Improving operational tools and protocols for studying the evolution of physical and thermodynamic properties during cooling and heating is therefore crucial to understanding high-temperature processes.
The project's main objectives are:
1) Implementing new instrumentation for near-real-time monitoring of the onset and evolution of crystallization, emplacement, and high-temperature deformation processes in complex multiphase systems, representative of both lava samples and ceramic bodies;
2) Measuring and modeling the rheological properties of samples as thermal and deformation regimes vary. The project will provide a unique opportunity to advance knowledge of physical processes relevant to experimental studies not only in volcanology and ceramic production, but also in other fields such as glass, materials, and metallurgy.
Principal investigator:
– Dr. Daniele Giordano (Università di Torino, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra)
Unit head:
– Dr. Michele Dondi (CNR-ISSMC)
Participants:
– Dr. Sonia La Felice (CNR-IGG)