Melting of iron in a shock wave

The available experimental data on the melting of iron under static and dynamic (shock-wave) conditions are analyzed. An explanation is proposed of a considerable discrepancy in the melting temperature values between statics and dynamics. A plausible cause resides in the presence in the dynamics of shear stresses due to the strength of matter. The equations of state are plotted for solid and liquid iron, and it is shown that the phase equilibrium, with due regard for the strength, shifts towards higher temperatures. The role of the obtained results in the theory of the structure of the Earth's core is discussed.