Combustion Modes and Reaction Paths of the Self-Sustained High-Temperature Synthesis of Intermetallic Compounds: A Computer Simulation Study of the Effect of Exothermicity

Abstract

The effect of the thermodynamic aspects on the SHS of intermetallic compounds is investigated by computer simulation using an heterogeneous model. The exothermicity of the process is explored by changing heat of formation of the solid compound and mixing enthalpy in the liquid phase, while the kinetics is left unmodified. Different dynamic behaviors have been identified: steady propagation, pulsed propagation, extinction. Two different kinds of instabilities are shown: longitudinal instabilities and transversal instabilities. The ranges of existence of these two dynamic behaviors appear to be mutually exclusive. The occurrence of different dynamic behaviors is related to the predominant process taking place in the different cases.