Oxidation resistant Mo-Mo2B-silica and Mo-Mo2B-silicate composites for high temperature applications

Development of Mo composites based on the Mo-Si-B system has been demonstrated as a possible new route to achieving a high temperature Mobased material. In this new system, the silicide phases are replaced directly with silica or other silicate materials. These composites avoid the high ductile to brittle transition temperature observed for Mo-Si-B alloys by removing the Si that exists in solid solution in Mo at equilibrium with its silicides. A variety of compositions is tested for room temperature ductility and oxidation resistance. A system based upon Mo, Mo₂B, and SrO·Al₂O₃·(SiO₂)₂ is shown to possess both ductility at 80 vol.% Mo and oxidation resistance at 60 vol.%. These composites can be produced using a powder processing approach and fired to greater than 95% theoretical density with a desirable microstructure of isolated boride and silicate phases within a ductile Mo matrix.