The oxidation behaviors of Nb67-xW15Si18Hfx (x=0, 5, 10) alloys were studied at 1 250℃in air. It is found that the Nb67W15Si18 alloy has the best oxidation resistance among the three alloys; and Hf addition is harmful to the oxidation resistance of the Nb67W15Si18 alloy. The oxides formed on the Nb67W15Si18 alloy are mainly Nb12WO33 and NbO2, and that on the Nb62W15Si18Hf5 and Nb57W15Si18Hf10 alloys is Nb2O5. Effect of Hf on the oxidation behavior of the Nb67-xW15Si18Hfx alloys has been discussed based on microstructures and kinetics of oxidation.
Nb-15W-18Si-xHf(x = 0, 5,10 and 15, mole fraction, %) alloys were prepared by arc melting and then homogenized at 1 750℃for 50 h. The microstructure and mechanical behaviors, such as Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, room- and hightemperature strength of the alloys were investigated. The microstructure of the annealed Nb-15W-18Si-xHf alloys is composed of large primary Nbss dendrite and fine eutectic mixture of Nbss and M5Si3 silicide. Both the hardness and the fracture toughness show an increase tendency at room temperature with increase of Hf content. The 0.2% compressive yield strength,σ0.2 of the alloys with 5 %Hf and 10%Hf are larger than 960 MPa at 1 200℃, and about 500 MPa even at 1 500℃.
In Nb-Si based alloys with a two-phase Nbss/ intermetallic Nb5Si3 structure, the Nb5Si3 provides high-temperature strength, while the Nb solid-solution phase, Nbss, contributes to room-temperature ductility and toughness. The results show that in Nb-15W-10Hf-xSi alloys (x= 0.5, 5 and 18, mole fraction, %), the volume fraction of the Nb5Si3 is 0 for the 0.5% Si sample, 15% for the 5% Si sample and the 50% for 18% Si sample. With increasing Si content, i.e., the Nb5Si3 fraction, the high-temperature strength is improved considerably, but room-temperature ductility and toughness are degraded. For the sample Nb-15W-10Hf-18Si with 50% Nb5Si3, the compressive strength at 1 500℃and the room-temperature fracture toughness are 500 MPa and 6.8 MPa·m1/2, respectively, those for the Nb5Si3 free sample, Nb-15W-10Hf-0.5Si, are 190 MPa and 13.6 MPa·m1/2.
