  MoAlB as a typical member of the MAB phases has attracted much growing
attention due to its unique properties. However, the low production of MoAlB
powders limits its further development and potential applications. To respond
this challenge, the ultra-fast preparation of high-purity MoAlB powders is
achieved in a few seconds by self-propagating high temperature combustion
synthesis (SHS) using the raw powder mixture at the atomic ratio of
1Mo/1.3Al/1B. The reaction mechanism in SHS process was obtained by analyzing
the corresponding composition changes of starting materials. Furthermore, the
thermodynamic prediction for the SHS reaction of Mo + (1+y)Al + B = MoAlB + yAl
is consistent with the present experiments, where the preparation of MoAlB also
conforms to two common self-propagating conditions of SHS. Enthalpy vs
temperature curve shows that the adiabatic temperature of the reaction
decreases with increasing the amount of excuse Al, but increase when
pre-heating the reactants. The thermodynamic calculation method also provides a
new idea for the preparation of other MAB phases by SHS.
