Piezonuclear evidences from laboratory tests on steel

Piezonuclear reactions concern neutron emissions triggered by high pressure waves in inert non-radioactive materials. This phenomenon has recently been documented in liquid solutions and brittle solids. In the present paper the investigation is extended to a more ductile material, like steel, subjected to different loading conditions. Although piezonuclear phenomena are more likely to take place during the failure of brittle materials, the phenomenon is revealed also with the more ductile failure of metallic materials.