SHS in Ni/Al Nanofoils: A Review of Experiments and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Non‐isothermal processes in nanometric metallic multilayers are reviewed, both experimentally and theoretically. The Ni/Al nanofoil is considered as a model system. On the one hand, the experimental methods of elaboration and analysis are presented and, on the other hand, the modeling approach at the macroscopic and atomic scale. The basic experimental features are reported together with recent achievements. Molecular dynamics investigation of the reactivity of Ni/Al systems is reported for bulk systems and nanosystems including nanoparticles, nanowires, nanofilms, and multilayers. The focus is on atomic‐scale modeling versus experiments. Molecular dynamics approaches allow us to elucidate the mechanisms of non‐isothermal processes occurring in nanoscale systems, such as phase transformations and self‐propagation reactions. Exothermic self‐sustaining reactions at the nanoscale are studied in the case of nanometric metallic multilayers. Experimental results and modeling at the atomistic scale are discussed, together with recent achievements. These complementary approaches are useful in the control of non‐isothermal processes for further applications of reactive nano‐foils in joining, brazing, and soldering.