A micromechanistic model of the combustion synthesis process: Modes of ignition

Abstract

A theoretical model of the combustion synthesis process has been developed to study the ignition of a self-propagating combustion synthesis process in the Nb–C system. Compared with most of the previously published theoretical work on this subject, this model provides a much more detailed description of the combustion synthesis process from a microscale point of view, due to the fact that it takes into consideration the various microprocesses, such as the melting of reactants, the diffusion and mixing of reactants, and the formation of products. Different ignition modes, including constant-temperature ignition, constant-heat-flux ignition, and variable-temperature ignition, are considered in this work. The key parameters that influence the ignition process are also discussed.