Effect of Composition and Sintering Temperature on Reaction Heat of Fe-Al Reactive Material

Micron Al and Fe powders were used as raw materials to prepare compacts, in which the mass ratio of Fe: Al were 3: 7, 4: 6 and 5: 5, by cold isostatic pressing. The effects of Fe-Al different composition proportion on reaction heat of compacts were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, in order to confirm the compact composition with maximum reaction heat. The Fe-Al reactive material with the above composition was prepared by pressureless sintering, and the influence of sintering temperature on the microstructure and reaction heat was also investigated. Results show that compact with the mass ratio of Fe: Al=4: 6 can release the maximum reaction heat, -589.8 J/g. When the sintering temperature is 540℃, a small amount of intermetallic compounds Al₁₃Fe₄ and Fe₂Al₅ are generated, which reduces the reaction heat, and is not favorable to the further spread of the reaction. However, when the sintering temperature is 530℃, no obvious intermetallic compound appears, and the reaction heat slightly decreases to -538.5 J/g.