Preparation of Mo–Si–B nanocomposite powders by mechanical alloying and heat treating

Abstract

In this study, an attempt has been made to synthesis Mo–Si–B nanocomposite alloys using a combination of mechanical alloying (MA) and heat treatment in various primary elemental compositions. For this purpose, Mo–14Si–10B, Mo–57Si–10B and Mo–47Si–23B (at.‐%) elemental powders were separately milled using an attritor mill. Mechanically alloyed (MAed) powders were annealed in an atmosphere controlled furnace under constant temperature for 10 h. Metallurgical characteristics of MAed and/or annealed powders were evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry, SEM, TEM and X‐ray diffraction. The results did not show any formation of related intermetallics after MA. However, MoSi₂, Mo₅Si₃, Mo₅SiB₂, MoB and Mo were successfully formed, when the MAed Mo–57Si–10B powders were subjected to annealing at a high temperature.

Keywords:

• Nanostructured intermetallics
• Molybdenum silicides
• Mo–Si–B
• Phase identification
• Mechanical alloying