Modeling and experimental studies on the effect of thermophysical
properties on field-activated combustion synthesis reactions*
Z. A. Munir
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science,
University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Abstract: The influence of thermal and electrical conductivities
and relative density on the dynamics of self-sustaining reactions activated
by an electric field was investigated by modeling. Under a given field,
the variation of the wave velocity and maximum temperature with normalized
electrical and thermal conductivities and density exhibited a maximum
at an optimum value of each of the three parameters. The results are
discussed in terms of a Fourier relationship modified by the Joule heat
contribution of the imposed field. A simulation was also made to investigate
the configuration of the reaction front in systems that are ignited
and sustained by a current. A transition from a volume (uniform) combustion
reaction to a wavelike form was found to occur as the sample size is
increased. These changes are also attributed to the interrelation between
the thermophysical parameters.
*Lectures from the 10th International Conference
on High Temperature Materials Chemistry (HTMC-X), Jülich, Germany,
10-14 April 2000. Other presentations are published in this issue, pp.
2101-2186.
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