Combustion and Characteristics of Mechanically Activated Ni plus Al Mixture: Effects of the Weight and Size of the Milling Balls

The dependences of the characteristics of a mechanically activated Ni + Al mixture and a Ni + Al mixture additionally activated in water (dispersion) on the weight and diameter of the steel balls used in the activation are studied. The burning velocity, size of the composite particle formed during activation, microstructure of the composite particles, crystal structure of the activated mixture, density of the pressed samples, and their elongation during combustion are examined. The possibility of modifying the characteristics of the activated and dispersed mixtures by changing the weight of the balls used in the activation is demonstrated. The properties of the activated mixtures are shown to be unaffected by the diameter of the balls. The dependences of the burning velocity on the experimental parameters are interpreted within the framework of the convective-conductive model of combustion.