Reactive Forging

Abstract

Reactive forging (RF) is a cost-and energy-efficient SHS-based technology for the processing of dense near-net-shape parts. The distinctive RF features—rapid heating to thermal explosion ignition followed by short-term application of a moderate uniaxial pressure—allows for the fabrication of unique discontinuously reinforced or interpenetrating phase composites with binary and ternary ceramic matrices, without the need for a protective atmosphere. The RF process is amenable to computer simulation and provides a simple approach to estimate SHS activation energy.