Abstract: A system for determining atomic structure and dynamics of salt under certain temperatures as a function of temperature above and below salt melting, contains a quartz tube containing a first end and a second end, and a graphite rod that is located within the quartz tube. The graphite rod contains a hollow center that extends from a top portion of the rod to a location prior to a bottom of the rod, wherein the bottom portion of the rod is enclosed. A sample of salt is located within the hollow center of the graphite rod. A filling material having the characteristics of not reacting to the graphite rod and not changing state with heating of the salt to a melting point of the salt, and wherein the filling material is positioned beneath the graphite rod between the second end of the quartz tube and the bottom of the graphite rod.

Abstract: Composite structures are provided whose composite matrix is a fully-dense (greater than 95%) magnesium oxide-containing phase and whose entrained phase, by virtue of its' decomposition temperature or chemical reactivity, would otherwise not be fabricable. Notably, a methodology is provided whereby a range of composite structures are formed by applying an advanced manufacturing technique and a blend of ceramic powder whose sintering is enhanced by small amounts of a metal halide sintering aid. This methodology and process significantly lowers the processing temperature of refractory ceramics such as magnesium oxide allowing formation of ceramic bodies incorporating phases such as metal hydrides, fragile ceramic phases, and highly reactive species such as beryllides. In all cases, the final product is substantially-free, or even devoid, of the metal halide sintering aid, resulting in a phase-pure ceramic matrix composed of the host phase and the entrained phase.