Magnesium-thermic reduction of tantalum oxide by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

Abstract

The magnesium-thermic reduction of tantalum pentoxide is studied during self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, i.e., under the conditions of manufacturing solid products in an autowave combustion mode. The effects of the charge density, the charge temperature, the particle size of reagents, and thermal ballast on the combustion rate and the maximum process temperature are investigated. Depending on the charge parameters, the combustion rate changes from 1.6 to 13 mm/s and the measured combustion temperatures varies in the range 1100–1885°C.