The Effects of Gravity on the Combustion Synthesis of B2O3-Al2O3-MgO Glass Ceramic Composites

Glass ceramic composites based on B2O3-Al2O3-MgO have been produced by combustion synthesis in a Self-propagating mode. The gravitational effects on the combustion characteristics such as combustion wave velocity (V), and combustion temperature (T(sub c)) were studied. The results showed that the gravitational effects on these parameters were inconclusive. The microstructure of this system has also been analyzed with X-ray Diffraction and light microscopy. These results showed a higher amount of divitrification occurs under both reduced gravity and high gravity conditions. The gravitational effects on formation of pores, overall porosity and apparent porosity for this family of glass-ceramics also shows to be inconclusive. Possible reasons for these results are discussed.