Thermal explosion in a powder mixture of aluminum with nickel preactivated in a low-energy laboratory mill

The effect of preliminary low-energy mechanical activation (MA) of nickel powder on the thermal explosion of the Ni$_3$Al intermetallic compound has been studied. Two synthesis methods are considered. In the first, the mixture was continuously heated by an external energy source. In the second, when the set temperature was reached, the external source was turned off. It has been shown that low-energy MA of nickel promotes the intensification of the synthesis of the Ni$_3$Al intermetallic compound. With continuous heating, the ignition temperature does not depend on the activation time and is equal to the melting point of aluminum. When heating with the external source turned off, preliminary activation of nickel reduces the solid-phase ignition temperature. It has been established that the activation of nickel in a laboratory mill allows one to avoid the factors of its passivation.