The propagation of a solid-state combustion wave in Ni-Al foils

Abstract

The use of thin foils to investigate the propagation of a combustion wave has been demonstrated for the nickel-aluminum system. The initiation of a reaction wave in the foils was found to be triggered by the melting of nickel regardless of the composition of the foil ensemble. In contrast, the propagation rate decreased with increasing nickel content in the foil ensemble. Considerable interactions, observed in advance of the combustion front, are contrary to assumptions made in existing models on the dynamics of self-sustaining reactions. The nature and sequence of reactions between foils of Ni and Al and their relationship to the combustion front were determined.