The Effect of Mechanical Activation of Elemental Powders on Combustion Synthesis of NbAl3

Abstract

The effect of mechanical activation procedures on the combustion synthesis of NbAl3 was investigated. The activation was carried out by a two-step high energy ball milling procedure. In the first milling, aluminum and niobium were milled separately (pre-activation). The mixture of pre-activated powders was then activated in the second milling. Reaction synthesis, by simultaneous combustion mode, was conducted on compacted pellets made of powder mixtures with and without pre-activation. The thermal behavior of the compacted pellets upon heating was recorded and the main thermal combustion reaction characteristics were evaluated. The two-step procedure produced aggregates with a globular dispersion of niobium due to increased particle hardness and decreasing mean particle size during pre-activation milling. Analysis of pellet thermal behavior showed the two-step milling procedure could enhance reaction performance by increasing maximum reaction heating rate and temperature gain during reaction.