A new approach to the modeling of SHS reactions: Combustion synthesis of transition metal aluminides

A recently developed numerical simulation of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) using an approach based on microscopic reaction mechanisms and utilizing appropriate physical parameters is applied to the SHS of a fairly large group of transition metal aluminides. The model was utilized to analyze temperature profiles and wave instability and the results were interpreted in terms of chemical and thermal effects. The effect of the particle size of the transition metal, the porosity of the reactant mixtures, and the dilution was investigated. The results are in good agreement with available experimental data. (c) 2006 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.