Chemical reactions in spherically symmetric problems of mechanochemistry

Abstract

A stress-assisted chemical reaction front propagation in a linear elastic solid is considered. The reaction between gas and solid constituents is sustained by the diffusion of the gas through the transformed material. The consideration is based on the kinetic equation in a form of the dependence of the reaction front velocity on the normal component of the chemical affinity tensor that in turn depends on stresses and gas concentration. Spherically symmetric problems of mechanochemistry are solved for the reaction front propagation in a sphere, in a body with a spherical hole and in an inclusion placed into an infinite medium. It is demonstrated how stresses can enhance, retard and even lock the reaction. The effects of the sign and value of the reaction front curvature are also examined.