Combustion synthesis of Ni3Al and Ni3Al-matrix composites

The self-propagating mode of combustion synthesis (SHS) of Ni₃Al starting from compacts of stoichiometrically mixed Ni and Al powders readily forms fully reacted structures with about 3 to 5 pct porosity, if green density of the compacts is greater than about 75 pct of theoretical. SHS-produced Ni₃Al matrix composites with up to 2 wt pct A1₂O₃ whiskers also have relatively low porosity levels. Porosity increases rapidly with lower green densities, higher Al₂O₃, or SiC whisker contents, and the degree of reaction completeness diminishes. The SiC whiskers undergo reaction with the matrix, while Al₂O₃ whiskers are nonreactive. All of these observations correlate well with temperature measurements made during the course of the reaction. The SHS mode can be achieved with agglomerated particle size ratioD _Al/D _Ni ≥ 1, larger than the limit established from studies of the thermal explosion mode of combustion synthesisD _Al/D _Ni ≃ 0.3. This paper is based on a presentation made in the symposium “Reaction Synthesis of Materials” presented during the TMS Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, February 17–21, 1991, under the auspices of the TMS Powder Metallurgy Committee.