The influence of oxygen partial pressure on recovery creep in magnetite single crystals Original Research Article

Creep tests of magnetite single crystals have been performed in compression at high temperatures (between 1000 and 1340°C). The main goal was two-fold: First of all, the determination of the dependence of steady state creep rate as a function of the oxygen partial pressure in the external atmosphere. Secondly, the comparison of this dependence with that of oxygen self-diffusion coefficient with the partial oxygen pressure. This second one had been reported in literature previously. Both are quantitatively very similar. This fact has allowed us to discuss some aspects of the minority point defects in the oxygen sub-lattice of this oxide.