Combustion synthesis of glass (B2O3-Al2O3-MgO)-ceramic (TiB2) composites

The combustion synthesis, or self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS), technique has been used to produce glass ceramic composites that have a glass matrix based on B2O3-MgO-Al2O3 and a crystalline ceramic phase of TiB2. Conditions for producing glassy materials by the SHS technique are discussed and the thermodynamics of these combustion reactions are analyzed. The combustion characteristics, i.e., ignition energy, combustion temperature, and wave velocity have been determined. Green density of the pellets had a significant effect on the combustion characteristics. Green pellets with low density were used to reduce heat loss, thus enabling the synthesis of those compositions having low adiabatic temperatures. The glass-forming region of these SHS glasses was found to be in relatively good agreement with that of samples produced by the traditional furnace-melting method.