Effect of composition of starting materials of Mo–Si on self-propagating high temperature SHS reaction

Abstract

An experimental study of the self-propagating high temperature synthesis of Mo–Si alloys was conducted from elemental powder compacts. Test specimens with seven compositions, including Mo/Si = 1∶1·25, 1∶1·50, 1∶1·75, 1∶2·00, 1∶2·25, 1∶2·50 and 1∶2·75 respectively, were employed. Experimental evidence showed that a combustion wave featuring a spinning reaction zone can be observed. When the powder compacts are from Mo∶1·25Si to Mo∶1·75Si, the combustion temperature and the propagation velocity of combustion wave increase with increasing silicon in the sample, and the combustion products are composed of MoSi2, Mo5Si3 and Mo. However, when the powder compacts are from Mo∶2·25Si to Mo∶2·75Si, the combustion temperature and the propagation velocity decrease rapidly as the silicon in the compact increases, and the combustion products are composed of MoSi2 and Si. The sample with Mo/Si = 1∶2·00 possesses the highest combustion temperature (1628·9 K) and propagation velocity (3·13 mm s−1). A single-phase MoSi2 is synthesised by the Mo/Si = 1∶2·00 sample.