Observation of chemical reactions between alkaline-earth oxides and tungsten at high pressure and high temperature

The potential chemical reactions of alkaline-earth oxides (AeO with Ae: Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and tungsten are studied at high pressure and high temperature. At pressures ranging from 5 to 10 GPa and temperatures of 2000 K, a noticeable reaction between AeO and powder tungsten (W) was detected. As a product of the reaction, scheelite-structured orthotungstates (AeWO₄) were formed. The reactivity of alkaline-earth oxides with tungsten increases in the order Ca<Sr<Ba, being the reaction not detected for MgO. Possible chemical reactions leading to the formation of alkaline-earth orthotungstates have been considered. Our results support the conclusion that the most probable reaction occurring under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions is AeO+W+3/2 O₂→AeWO₄.