Effects of the lanthanum content on the microstructure and properties of the molybdenum alloy

The effects of the lanthanum content on the microstructure and properties of molybdenum alloy were investigated. The molybdenum powders with various lanthanum contents were prepared by a solid-liquid doping method and reduction under hydrogen atmosphere, which could be processed into sintered molybdenum and rotary swaged molybdenum. The results indicated that the grain sizes of the alloys became finer and the tensile strength increased with increasing La content. The La₂O₃ particles could adsorb impurity elements that existed on the grain boundary and generate the amorphous structure around the particle. The rotary swaged Mo with 0.1 wt.% La was the highest tensile strength, and the rotary swaged Mo with 0.03 wt.% La possessed the highest elongation to failure of 42%. In addition, the electrical resistivity of the rotary swaged Mo increased at first and later decreased with increasing La content.