Synthesis of MoSi2xNb and MoSi2yZrO2 composites by the field-activated combustion method

The effect of an electric of field on the combustion synthesis of MoSi2xNb (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.45) and MoSi2yZrO2 (0 ⩽ y ⩽ 0.15) was investigated. The velocity of the combustion wave in both composite systems increased nearly linearly with an increase in the applied field. Composites with x ⩾ 0.45 and y ⩾ 0.15 can only be synthesized in the presence of a field. Although, in the absence of a field, the system with x = 0.45 and y = 0.15 can sustain a non-steady combustion wave, the reaction is not complete and only partial conversion to MoSi2 is evident. For the synthesis of pure MoSi2, the field was shown to affect the particle size of the product. The average particle size decreased when the synthesis was carried out under the effect of the field.