Self-propagating chain combustion with formation of ultradispersed powders

We have investigated the possibility of realizing the self-propagating combustion regime for a gaseous mixture of SiH₄–NH₃–O₂ and SiH₄-2 with an oxygen content of 0–2%. Calculation of the equilibrium composition indicates the possibility that the target products Si and Si₃N₄ are formed. We have established experimentally that propagation of the chemical reaction front in the self-sustaining regime with formation of the above-indicated products occurs only in the presence of oxygen. We show that chemical induction, leading to consumption of up to 60% of the initial monosilane, is a chain reaction.Institute of Structural Macrokinetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka 142432. Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 85–91, July–August, 1994.