(602f) Kinetics and Product Composition of Exothermic Reacting Systems Consisting of Binary Nanopowders

Kinetics of the formation of intermetallic compounds, such as NiAl, Ni3Al, and MoSi2 in a self-propagating high temperature regime is investigated as a function of reactant particle size. Elemental powders ranging from 50 to 150 nm are utilized and the activation energy is evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry. In-situ combustion synthesis and densification experiments are conducted in vacuum or argon atmosphere in a uniaxial hot press with densification pressures up to 200 MPa and preheating temperatures up to 1,500 K. The effect of preheating temperature, ignition sequence, and densification pressure on phase composition, product morphology, and the density of combustion synthesized products will be discussed as well.