The results of experimental studies of self-propagating high-temperature sy
nthesis in double-layer Cu/Au thin-film systems are presented. It is shown
that the synthesis initiation temperature for a Cu/Au film is determined by
the order-disorder phase-transition temperature in the Cu-Au system. The o
rder-disorder transition temperature for thin films is found to be lower th
an for the bulky samples. It is assumed that the temperatures of initiation
of solid-phase reactions in thin films can be associated with the structur
al phase-transition temperatures. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".