Application of artificial neural nerworks in oxidation kinetic analysis of nanocomposites

This study concerns the application of artificial neural networks in oxidation kinetic analysis of ceramic nanocomposites. The oxidation of the Ti-Si-C ceramic nanocomposite in dry air was studied. The size of the nanoparticles was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The gaseous oxidation products were analysed by mass spectroscopy (MS) while the solid oxidation products by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The kinetic analysis of the oxidation was based on the Coats-Redfern equation. The kinetic models were identified for the consecutive stages and then the A and E parameters of the Arrhenius equations were evaluated. Artificial neural networks were used at each step of the kinetic calculations.