The kinetics of solid state reactions accompanied by fracture: II. Model of stationary front with disordered fracture morphology

Solid state reactions are often accompanied by fracture which is caused by volume or structural misfit between solid reagents and products. Such a fracture has a feedback effect on the initial reaction in the case of a heterogeneous process which includes surface stage and diffusion in solid: new reaction surface and small particles of solid reagent produced by fracture lead to local reaction acceleration and to formation of a self-sustaining combined front of reaction and fracture. Based on our recent experimental study of the ion exchange reaction in lime-soda glass we propose a quantitative model of stationary propagation of such a front. The model allows for the prediction of the stationary velocity of the front as well as for the dimensions of particles produced by fracture with great accuracy.