Differential thermal analysis of ignition temperatures in a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction

Differential thermal analysis was carried out on the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction 3TiO₂+4Al+3C→3TiC+2Al₂O₃. The results allow the ignition temperature of the reaction to be estimated and the reaction mechanism to be identified. The ignition temperature was 900°C and the results suggest that the reaction proceeds by an initial reaction between titania and aluminium (3TiO₂+4Al→3Ti+2Al₂O₃) and the titanium formed reacts with the carbon (Ti+C→TiC).