Theoretical and experimental study of combustion synthesis of microgradient ULTRA high-temperature ceramics in Zr-Ta-Si-B system

The macrokinetic features and phase and structure formation mechanisms are investigated in the Zr-Ta-Si-B system in the framework of the fractal theory of combustion. The reaction mechanisms are explored using ab initio grand potential modeling and Ellingham diagrams and then verified via direct in situ time-resolved XRD and quenching of combustion fronts in a copper block. The tendency of the Zr-TaSi-B system to form tantalum boride Ta3B4 and a...