Solid solutions of titanium diboride–tungsten diboride (TiB2–WB2) were synthesized by induction‐field‐activated combustion synthesis (IFACS) using elemental reactants. In sharp contrast to conventional methods, solid solutions could be formed by the IFACS method within a very short time, ∼2 min. Solutions with compositions ranging from 40–60 mol% WB2 were synthesized with a stoichiometric ratio (Ti + W)/B =½; however, samples with excess boron were also made to counter the loss of boron by evaporation. The dependence of the lattice constants of the resulting solid solutions on composition was determined. The “a” parameter decreased only slightly with an increase in the WB2 content, whereas the “c” parameter exhibited a significant decrease over the range 40–60 mol% WB2. Solid‐solution powders formed by the IFACS method were subsequently sintered in a spark plasma sintering (SPS) apparatus. After 10 min at 1800°C, the samples densified to relative density 86%. XRD analysis showed the presence of only the solid‐solution phase.

The thermoelectric material β-FeSi 2 was produced by a rapid eco-process involving induction-field-activated combustion synthesis / static pseudo-isostatic compaction (IFACS /SPIC). A dense Fe-Si alloy (Fe/Si = 3/7) was synthesized by IFACS/SPIC using a powder compact of high purity Fe and Si. An induction time (5 min) of IFACS/SPIC and the annealing time (at 1123 K for 5 min) for β-transformation were extremely shorter than those of conventional synthesis. When the Fe/Si ratio of the alloy used in the eutectoid reaction α-FeSi2β-FeSi2+Si was 3/7, the main annealing product was β-FeSi 2 with a small amount of free Si, and the formation of metallic ε-FeSi was prevented. The relative density and the β-transformation ratio were 95% and 96%, respectively. The thermoelectric properties of the p-type Mn-doped (Fe 2.94 Mn 0.06 Si 7 ) and the n-type Co-doped (Fe 2.94 Co 0.06 Si 7 ) products were investigated from room temperature to 1123 K.

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