A Study on the Behavior of Combustion Wave Propagation and the Structure of Porous TiNi Body during Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis Process

We produced cylindrical porous TiNi bodies by Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) process, varying the heating schedule prior to ignition of a loose preform compact made from (Ti+Ni) powder mixture. To investigate the effect of the heating schedule on the behaviour of combustion wave propagation and the structure of porous TiNi shape-memory alloy (SMA) body, change of temperature in the compact during SHS process was measured as a function of time and used for determining combustion temperature and combustion wave velocity. Microstructure of produced porous TiNi SMA body was observed and the results were discussed with the combustion characteristics. From the results it was concluded that the final average pore size could be controlled either by the combustion wave velocity or by the average temperature of the preform compact prior to ignition.