Simulating the propagation of exothermic reactions in heterogeneous media

An approach to simulating exothermic chemical reactions based on the concept of cellular automata is described. The validity of the approach is analyzed using the results of simulating the propagation of the reaction front during self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in the Ni–Al system. Good agreement is obtained between simulated and experimental dependences of the propagation velocity of the front and the maximum combustion temperature on the initial heating temperature of the powder mixture. It is concluded that a correct description of the effect of porosity on the course of the exothermic reaction requires explicit allowance for the reaction kinetics, in particular, the spreading of the liquid phase.