40 YEARS OF SHS: A LUCKY STAR OF A SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY A Presentation with Elements of a Scientific Lecture

SHS investigation development is considered from the geographical and historical viewpoint. 3 stages are described. Within Stage 1 the work was carried out in the Department of the Institute of Chemical Physics in Chernogolovka where the scientific discovery had been made. At Stage 2 the interest to SHS arose in different cities and towns of the former USSR. Within Stage 3 SHS entered the international scene. Now SHS processes and products are being studied in more than 50 countries.

The results of the investigation of solid-flame processes leading to obtaining refractory compounds (metal (Group IV and VI of the Periodical Table) carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides) are described in the Chapter. The first syntheses were carried out. Simple combustion models were made. New phenomena were discovered. It led to elaboration of the scientific backgrounds of the SHS processes.

Active development of the investigation started in the 1970-s. The results obtained within Stage 1 were under study, some new directions appeared. Mechanisms of SHS product formation were realized.

The Chapter describes the organization of the SHS work in the Ukraine, Armenia, Tomsk, etc. The first results were obtained in the industrial assimilation of SHS. Scientific-and-industrial cooperation between different institutions producing abrasive pastes was established. The fruitful work in the 1970-s proved that SHS can be a background for development of new scientific and technological directions.

In 1979 the State support of SHS started. Different statesmen visited our town and got acquainted with the method. Also the author pays great attention to the foundation of the inter- branch scientific-andtechnical unit which was called Termosyntez. It united scientific, designing and manufacturing organizations. During its work the Unit demonstrated the ability of SHS to solve some important technological problems. But after the USSR disintegration the Unit collapsed. The Chapter describes the results obtained during the existence of the Unit.

The Chapter describes the attempts of the scientists in maintaining the SHS direction during the hard years after the USSR disintegration.

The Author considers the international development of SHS and the results obtained in other countries - the USA, Japan, etc.

The Chapter reviews 40-year development of SHS. The main result is the appearance of a new field of knowledge which unites solid combustion and materials science.

Various problems and events accompanying the SHS development are considered as well as the SHS infrastructure is described.