Enhancing the High-Temperature Compression Property of Bimodal Mo-Si-B Alloy via Coarsening Grain
摘要
The effects of grain coarsening via annealing on the high-temperature compression properties of a bimodal Mo-12Si-8.5B-0.57 wt.% La2O3 alloy have been investigated. The as-hot-pressed (HP) alloy initially possessed a micron/submicron bimodal α-Mo matrix with dispersed submicron Mo3Si and Mo5SiB2. Annealing led to grain coarsening: after 3 h, micron Mo3Si and Mo5SiB2 were distributed in a micron bimodal α-Mo matrix with coarse-grained (CG) and fine-grained (FG) regions, and after 6 h, the bimodal α-Mo matrix transitioned to a micron unimodal α-Mo matrix. At 1000°C, the as-HP-ed alloy demonstrated the highest compressive strength (1542 MPa) but suffered from premature brittle fracture. Grain coarsening improved compressive plasticity by enhancing dislocation storage. At 1200–1400°C, prolonged annealing increased the strength of alloy. Notably, at 1400°C, the compressive strength (327 MPa) of alloy annealed for 6 h was 170% higher than that of as-HP-ed alloy. The strengthening was driven by reduced grain boundary sliding, work hardening of coarsened bimodal or unimodal microstructure, and Orowan strengthening of La2O3. At 1400°C, the micron α-Mo of as-HP-ed alloy preferentially underwent dynamic recrystallization, delaying deformation in submicron regions and providing good softening resistance. However, the coarsened bimodal and unimodal microstructure accelerated recrystallization of micron CG/FG α-Mo and intermetallics regions, slightly reducing softening resistance.