The influence of different additives on the kinetics of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis during the sintering process of Fe and Al elemental powders

The influence of small additions of Mg, Ti, and their hydrides on the kinetics of the Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) reaction during sintering of iron and aluminum elemental powders was investigated using the DSC technique and XRD analysis. It was observed that the additives have a significant effect on the SHS reaction parameters. The start of the SHS reaction in a Fe–Al system containing additives (especially with Mg and MgH2) is shifted to lower temperatures as compared with that of an undoped Fe–Al system. The influence of these additives is also visible from changes in the Avrami exponent and the activation energy value of specific phase formation from the Fe–Al equilibrium system. Furthermore, additives cause a change of intensity of the SHS reaction, which should allow control of the degree of sintering porosity.