Production and Evaluation of Dense Ceramic Compounds by Combustion Synthesis and Dynamic Compaction

The objectives of this research program were to apply combustion synthesis and dynamic forging in order to produce fully dense ceramics. The program was successfully carried out but was unfortunately terminated. TiC and TiB2 ceramics, TiC-Ni cermets, and A1203-TiB2 an TiB2-SiC ceramic-ceramic composites were successfully produced and characterized. The research effort carried out from October 1988 to the present yielded eleven technical publications, of which seven were (or will be) published in archival journals and four in conference proceedings. The work has been presented at eight technical meetings and has been very well received by the community. Three students were supported by this research program. Three M.S. degrees were awarded and two Ph.D. theses are in progress, with projected completion in August 1992 and January 1993. Collaboration with BRL and CERACON was active during this period.