Abstract
Three wave shock structures associated with the Hugoniot elastic limits and the solid-solid phase transitions have been measured for zinc sulfide and zinc selenide. The Hugoniot elastic limits were found to be 3.4±1 GPa for zinc sulfide and 3.0±1 GPa for zinc selenide. The phase transition stresses were 17.4±1.2 GPa for zinc sulfide and 14.6±1 GPa for zinc selenide. Both materials exhibited shear strength above the Hugoniot elastic limit.