Metal vapor reaction description

In a typical reaction 100 - 200 mg of metal [Cr or Ni] was evaporated from a preformed alumina crucible over a period of 60 - 90 min and deposited into a mixture of 2 in poly(dimethylsiloxane) [Petrarch Systems 0.1 P.] within a rotary solution metal vapor reactor operating at 10 4 torr. The reaction flask was cooled to approximately 270 K by an iced-water bath. For a description of the apparatus see Chapter 3 of reference 4. The product in each case was a dark orange viscous liquid and was characterized as obtained from the reaction vessel. 

Due to the fact that industrial composites are made up of combinations of metals, polymers, and ceramics, the kinetic processes involved in the formation, transformation, and degradation of composites are often the same as those of the individual components. Most of the processes we have described to this point have involved condensed phases—liquids or solids—but there are two gas-phase processes, widely utilized for composite formation, that require some individualized attention. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) involve the reaction of gas phase species with a solid substrate to form a heterogeneous, solid-phase composite. Because this discussion must necessarily involve some of the concepts of transport phenomena, namely diffusion, you may wish to refresh your memory from your transport course, or refer to the specific topics in Chapter 4 as they come up in the course of this description. 

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