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Mantle superplasticity and its self-made demise

Author

Listed:
  • Takehiko Hiraga

    (Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan)

  • Tomonori Miyazaki

    (Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan)

  • Miki Tasaka

    (Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan)

  • Hidehiro Yoshida

    (Nano Ceramics Center, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0047, Japan)

Abstract

Superplasticity goes underground Superplasticity, an unusual capability of a solid crystalline material to deform plastically beyond its normal breaking point, has been found in metals and even ceramics. Superplastic behaviour is also thought to occur in some geological materials, including Earth's lower mantle, but until now it had not been demonstrated in geomaterials in the laboratory. Hiraga et al. now report that synthetic rocks that are good analogues for mantle composites do exhibit superplasticity, undergoing up to 500% elongation. Their calculations show that mantle superplastic flow is accompanied by significant grain growth that can change fine-grained rocks to coarse-grained aggregates, resulting in increasing mantle viscosity — and finally the termination of superplastic flow.

Suggested Citation

  • Takehiko Hiraga & Tomonori Miyazaki & Miki Tasaka & Hidehiro Yoshida, 2010. "Mantle superplasticity and its self-made demise," Nature, Nature, vol. 468(7327), pages 1091-1094, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:468:y:2010:i:7327:d:10.1038_nature09685
    DOI: 10.1038/nature09685
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