Mechanical activation assisted self-propagating high- Temperature synthesis of Si/Al2O3 composites

Abstract

The process of mechanochemical interaction of SiO2 with Al was studied. The mechanical activation of the SiO2/Al mixture results in a decrease of the temperature of chemical interaction of SiO2 with Al from 1100°C to about 600°C. The mechanochemically prepared SiO 2/Al may serve as a precursor for Si/Al2O3 composites formed by subsequent self- propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). For the first time, the SHS process (reduction of SiO2 by Al) was followed in-situ by the time-resolved X-ray synchrotron diffraction. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.