Finite element analysis on the effect of Si phase melting in combustion synthesis of MoSi₂

Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is a flexible and appealing way of producing many simple inorganic materials or composites. In this study, nonlinear transient heat transfer analyses have been performed to predict the temperature profiles and the combustion temperature of the Mo + 2Si powder mixture undergoing the SHS reaction using the finite element method. The reactant was modeled as a porous mixture of Mo and Si powders and the physical properties for the analysis were derived thereupon. It was demonstrated that the temperature gradient and the combustion temperatures calculated were in reasonable agreements with experimental results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.