IN-SITU COMBUSTION SYNTHESIS OF DENSE CERAMIC AND CERAMIC-METAL INTERPENETRATING PHASE COMPOSITES

A model exothermic reaction is used to demonstrate the application of simultaneous combustion synthesis, conducted under a consolidating pre ssure, as a one-step in situ synthesis technique for the production of dense ceramic and ceramic-metal interpenetrating phase composites (IP C). The addition of an excess amount of metal, e.g., Al, and/or a dilu ent, e.g., Al2O3, lowers the combustion temperature and aids in the re finement of the microstructure, facilitating an increase in compressiv e strength and elastic modulus. The effects of the important process p arameters, e.g., reaction stoichiometry and diluents, green density, p ressure, and temperature, on microstructure and properties of these hi gh-performance composites are discussed.