Combustion Synthesis in Mn-Si-C-N Using Mn as a Surrogate for Am

The paper outlined here uses self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) or combustion synthesis that employs more efficient and effective high reaction and cooling rates to produce high quality, reproducible nitride fuels. The fundamental SHS processing parameters was determined to produce Mn-Si-C-N ceramic compounds in which Mn is a surrogate for Am. Because manganese nitride has a relatively low heat of formation the reaction can not be self-sustaining when Si was blended with Mn in the Si:Mn=0.25:1 ratio. The purity of MnSiN2 increases with an increase of the Mn content in Mn-Si-N system. Pure MnSiN2 can be synthesized when Si was blended with Mn in the Si:Mn = 0.5:1 ratio. Volume expansion and porosity decreases, so density, strength and hardness increase as increasing the Mn content in Mn-Si-N system. The powders and sintered cake of MnSiN2-Si3N4 or MnSiN2-Si3N4-SiC was produced by combustion synthesis. The sintered cake of MnSiN2-Si3N4-SiC is attacked by atmospheric moisture to fall to a powder.