STRUCTURAL MACROKINETICS OF SHS PROCESSES

Development of structural macrokinetics as a new field of science in the 80s and in the beginning of 90s is analyzed. Results having principal importance for working out procedures of controlling structure of products and materials prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis is reviewed. Major attention has been paid to refractory products (carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides, etc.) and refractory base materials, viz. oxygenless ceramics, cermets, and hard alloys, as well as to high-temperature superconductors. It is shown that the structure of these materials produced in thc combustion mode, in general, can be effectively controlled by changing relevant parameters of the synthesis. In connection with this, detailed studies on the mechanism of product structurization and the structure of combustion wave itself are necessary.