Effect of heat release conditions on the phase composition of the combustion products of a Fe$_2$O$_3$/TiO$_2$/Al/С thermite mixture

An X-ray method was used to study the phase composition of the combustion products of a Fe$_2$O$_3$/TiO$_2$/Al/С thermite composite mixture, in particular, during combustion of samples under cooling by water. The data of the experiments are compared with the results of thermodynamic calculations. A probable explanation of the reasons of the angular displacement of the line of iron in the X-ray spectrum of the combustion products and a mechanism for the crystallization of an eutectic TiC + $\alpha$-Fe mixture from the melt of the Ti/Fe/C ternary system. The composition of the combustion products was found to be different from the equilibrium one, which is manifested in the presence of defects in the carbon sublattice of titanium carbide. A probable explanation of the deficiency of carbon is proposed.