Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
The combustion synthesis of the B4C-2Al203-xAl ceramic-metal composite system has been studied using the propagating mode of ignition for the reaction 2B203 + C + (4 + x)Al = B4C + 2Al203 + xAl in which x was varied between 0 and 3. The volatile constituent(s), eg. B2O3, resulted in the formation of an expanded or foamed ceramic with a uniform porous structure. The porosity represents ≥65%, and an expansion of 300-500% occurred mainly in the vertical direction. The effect of green density and reaction stoichiometry on product density, pore morphology, propagation rate and overall activation energy is discussed.