Extending the compositional limit of combustion-synthesized B4C-TiB2 composites by field activation

Abstract

Composites of B4C-TiB2 with molar ratios B4C/TiB2 of up to 8 were synthesized by field activated combustion. The combustion wave velocity depended on this ratio and increased approximately linearly with the applied field. The effect of the field was analyzed and its contribution to the combustion temperature was calculated. X-ray and microscopic analyses showed the synthesis to be a two-step process. Titanium boride forms at or near the leading edge of the combustion zone and B4C forms at or near the trailing edge.