An Experimental Investigation of Combustive Synthesis of Titanium Carbide

Abstract

Described here is an experiment to determine the propagation speed of a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction wave along a vertical cylindrical reactant compact. The results obtained in this experiment pertain to the reaction between titanium and carbon to produce titanium carbide. They show the dependency of the steady propagation speed on: (i) the diameter of the reactant compact; (ii) the density of the compact; (iii) the reactant mixture composition; and (iv) dilution of the reactant mixture with the inert product TiC. The effects of these parameters on the density of the final product are also presented. Conditions at which the reaction wave ceases to propagate in a self-supporting manner are also identified.

Keywords:

• Combustion synthesis
• SHS
• gasless combustion
• titanium carbide
• propagation velocity