Review of melt casting of dense ceramics and glasses by high gravity combustion synthesis

Abstract

High gravity combustion synthesis is a recently reported technique to prepare dense ceramics and glasses by melt casting instead of conventional powder sintering. This technique combines strong exothermic chemical reactions with a high gravity field, and offers an efficient and furnace free way for rapid production of bulk ceramic and glass materials. This article reviews major results on melt casting of dense ceramics and glasses by high gravity combustion synthesis. Several ceramic and glass materials prepared by high gravity combustion synthesis are firstly presented as examples, including single phase ceramics, multiphase eutectic or composite ceramics, glasses and glass–ceramics. Then, the reaction kinetics in high gravity combustion synthesis are discussed in detail, with an emphasis on phase separation, solidification and microstructure evolution. Finally, a conclusion is drawn with a perspective on further development and application of high gravity combustion synthesis.