Combustion synthesis of VC/Fe composites under the action of an electric field

Composites of VC/Fe have been synthesized from reactant mixtures of graphite, iron, and ferrovanadium by a field-assisted combustion synthesis method in a Gleeble thermal simulation instrument. With the aid of a high electric current, a relatively low onset temperature for the combustion reaction, between 691 °C and 813 °C, could be achieved. The ignition temperature and ignition delay time of the reaction decreased with the increase of the reactant V content and the preset heating rate of the process, and the decrease of ferrovanadium particle size. These technologic parameters also affected the final phase and grain size of vanadium carbide particles in the products.