Foaming behavior of long-scale Al–Ti intermetallic foam by SHS mode combustion reaction

Highlight
• Long scale Al–Ti intermetallics foam was fabricated by SHS mode combustion reaction.
• Exothermic agent addition increase porosity and reaction propagating speed of the fabricated foam.
• 60–70% porosity Al–Ti intermetallics foam was fabricated with exothermic agent addition and preheating treatment.

Long-scale Al–Ti intermetallic foam was fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) mode combustion reaction with the help of exothermic agent and preheating treatment. The effect of exothermic agent and preheating condition on the SHS mode combustion reaction foaming of the long-scale Al–Ti intermetallic foam was investigated. Maximum temperature of combustion reaction, reaction propagation speed and porosity of specimen were increased by increasing the amount of exothermic agent. A correspondence relation between the distribution of porosity and the distribution of the maximum temperature throughout the self propagation direction was indicated. Long-scale Al–Ti foam which had 60–70% porosity and uniformed porosity distribution was earned with 623 and 673 K homogenous preheating. It was due to the appearance of Al3Ti liquid phase throughout the observation point of the specimen during the combustion reaction by the preheating treatment.