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The influence of sulfur on the electrical resistivity of hcp iron: Implications for the core conductivity of Mars and Earth
Author(s) -
Suehiro Sho,
Ohta Kenji,
Hirose Kei,
Morard Guillaume,
Ohishi Yasuo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2017gl074021
Subject(s) - electrical resistivity and conductivity , alloy , mars exploration program , impurity , materials science , sulfur , silicon , earth (classical element) , mineralogy , analytical chemistry (journal) , metallurgy , geology , astrobiology , chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , mathematical physics , organic chemistry , chromatography
Cosmochemical and geochemical studies suggest sulfur (S) as a light alloying element in the iron‐rich cores of telluric planets, but there is no report of sulfur's alloying effect on the electrical and thermal transport properties of iron (Fe); a subject that is closely related to the dynamo action and thermal evolution of planetary cores. We measured the electrical resistivity of hexagonal‐closed‐packed (hcp) structured Fe alloy containing 3 wt. % silicon (Si) and 3 wt. % S up to 110 GPa at 300 K. Combined with the reported resistivities of hcp Fe and hcp Fe‐Si alloy, we determined the impurity resistivity of S in a hcp Fe matrix at high pressures. The obtained impurity resistivity of S is found to be smaller than that of Si. Therefore, S is a weaker influence on the conductivity of Fe alloy, even if S is a major light element in the planetary cores.