The motivation for research on self-propagating high temperature synthesis (solid combustion) has been largely based upon materials considerations, but many of the unresolved problems are directly or indirectly related to heat and mass transfer issues. Temperature-related wave characteristics are governed, in part, by the thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and specific heat of the reactants and products of combustion. The research, which is to be performed cooperatively with the Institute of Structural Macrokinetics in Chernogolovka, USSR, consists of three experimental activities: investigations of the effect of melting on combustion synthesis of refractory metal carbides, investigations of nonuniform combustion fronts in the filtration combustion synthesis of nitrides, and investigation of the propagation of combustion waves through compositional gradients. Fundamental studies are needed to provide a thorough understanding of the mechanisms of direct combustion synthesis. The apparent complexity of the process has generated only a reserved optimism on the future of the technique with US industry. A research effort coordinated with the Soviet Union, under the guidelines of the US-USSR Cooperation in the Field of Basic Scientific Research Program, will lead to a higher likelihood of understanding the combustion process in synthesis reactions through investigations of the evolving temperature wave.
