Combustion synthesis diamond composites

Nine compositions with the diamond concentration of 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25 mass % were mixed with the charge Ti-C-Mo to produce multi-layered semi-products. The ready mixtures were placed layer-by-layer into a pressform in the following order diamondless layer weighing 25,5 g 3 mass % diamond layer, weighing 10 g 5 % layer -10 g 7 % layer - 10 g 9 % layer - 9,9 g 12 % layer - 9,9 g. After densification pellets were obtained 48 mm in diameter with the thickness of the layers 5.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.0 mm correspondently. Multilayered pellets with the diamond concentration from layer to layer as much as 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 % mass were prepared similarly. The final pellet was placed into a reactional mold. An SHS reaction was initiated from the lateral face of the cylindrical pellet by a tungsten spiral. After accomplishment of the combustion reaction and propagation of the combustion synthesis wave, the hot SHS-products were compacted in a hydraulic press at P > 400 MPa for no more than 10 s. The time of exposure to pressure was chosen dependent on the combustion temperature and reology of the products, e.g., on their plasticity and the amount of the liquid phase formed. Usually this time is 0.5 -4 2 sec. SHS-products were cooled at the room temperature. 

Feynman s vision of miniaturization and the Drexler-versus-Smalley debate on feasibility of mechanosynthetic reactions using molecular assemblers were discussed. Fullerenes are the third allotropic form of carbon. Soccer-ball-structured Cgo with a surface filled with hexagons and pentagons satisfies Euler s law. Howard patented the first generation combustion synthesis method for fullerene production. The projected price of the fullerenes has decreased from 165,000 per kg to 200 per kg in the second-generation process. Fullerenes can also be synthesized using chemical methods, a supercritical extraction method, and the electric arc process. Applications of fullerenes include high temperature superconductors, bucky onion catalysts, advanced composites and electromechanical systems, synthetic diamonds. 

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