Microwave ignition and combustion synthesis of composites

Abstract

Microwave processing and combustion synthesis have been united to fabricate composite materials. The internal heating with microwave energy initiates the ignition in the center of the sample and the combustion wave font propagates radially outward. Under suitable processing conditions the wave front can be controlled in contrast with the self-propagation in conventional combustion synthesis. The exothermic energy released during the combustion reaction assists in microwave heating (microwave absorption increases with increasing temperature). Thus microwave ignition, controlled combustion and sintering of dense compacts allows fabrication of composites which are difficult to obtain with conventional self-propagating high-temperature synthesis.