Composites fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is a promising method for the fabrication of composites. However, the products obtained directly from the SHS process are generally porous, which limits the application of SHS. SHS plus dynamic mechanical pressing, which combines synthesis and densification in one step was proposed and was named SHS/QP. In the process, immediately after the SHS reaction, a quick pressing force acts on the “hot and soft” sample for densification. In this paper, the fabrication of cermets by SHS/QP is reported. The optimum conditions of SHS/QP for cermets were studied, and the densification mechanism for cermets was analyzed.