Phase Formation and Thermodynamic Analysis of Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis Al–Zr–N System Composites
The self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) of Al–Zr–N system composite ceramics was investigated in this paper. The melting point of Al was low (Tm = 660 °C), while that of Zr was high (Tm =1855 °C). Therefore, Al will melt and coalesce during reaction, which inhibit diffusion of nitrogen from outside the metal compact to interior due to collapse of the pore openings, while Zr will not melt under the combustion temperature which is lower than its melting point. It will not affect the permeation of nitrogen under the conditions. Accordingly, the ratio of Al and Zr in the initial mixed powders will affect the permeation of nitrogen from outside the sample to the interior, which results in different phase formation of the products. In this study, the relationship between the combustion parameters and the phase formation of the products will be experimentally determined through XRD analysis, and then thermodynamically analyzed.