1st Russian-Japanese Workshop on SHS

JUST BEFORE THE JUMP INTO A NEW MILLENNIUM



The 1st Russian-Japanese Workshop on SHS was held on October 30-November 3, 1998 in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic just after the International Symposium on Functionally Graded Materials (Dresden, Germany, October 25-30, 1998). The agreement to conduct a bilateral Russian-Japanese meeting was reached during the IV International Symposium on SHS in Toledo, Spain (6-9 October, 1997). As agreed, 10 Japanese and 11 Russian participants took part in this event. The topics covered were as follows:

Comparative analysis of SHS products
Progress in the theory of SHS
Ecological aspects of SHS
Effects of external influences


The workshop was organized by Academician A.G. Merzhanov (Russia) and Professor Emeritus M. Koizumi (Japan) and supported by the Institute of Structural Macrokinetics and Materials Science (Russia), High-Tech Research Center of Ryukoku University (Japan), Japanese Research Association of SHS, and ADATA Travel Agency (Czech Republic).
The workshop was carried in two working days and had a thickened scientific program (19 oral presentations).

Two presentations from each side were made in the Section "Progress in the theory of SHS".

In their presentation entitled as "Influences of Process Parameters on Stable Propagation of SHS Combustion Wave", Profs. M. Kuwabara and M. Sano (Nagoya University) reported the data obtained in their study on SHS in the Mo-Si and Fe2O3-Al systems where they theoretically predicted the features of real experiments. It was found that the stability of wave propagation can be improved upon small preloading of a green mixture or by its preheating. These influences diminish the induction period and enhance the homogeneity of resultant product. The suggested theoretical model can be used to predict the technological parameters of the SHS process.

Each of four sessions was followed by general discussion where each participant could express its own point of view and put questions to the authors. The discussions were of great interest for both the sides. Numerous informal fruitful discussions took place during the Workshop. The participants were also involved in social events (sightseeing in Karlovy Vary and the environment and excursion to the worldwide-known Moser glass factory). The Japanese participants had also sightseeing in Prague.

 














In conclusion, the Final Memorandum was signed by Academician A.G. Merzhanov, from the Russian side, and by Emeritus M. Koizumi, from the Japanese side. The Memorandum assumes joint projects in the field of SHS and similar bilateral meetings on exchange by achievements and experience in the field.

Dr. A.E. Sytschev
Scientific Secretary
Institute of Structurtal Macrokinetics and Materials Science
Russia