Preparation and characterization of sintered molybdenum doped with MoSi2/La2O3/Y2O3 composite particle

The effect of MoSi2/La2O3/Y2O3 (SiLY) composite particle on microstructure and mechanical properties of sintered molybdenum was surveyed in this research. The SiLY was obtained by mechanical milling and then doped into molybdenum by the solid-solid method. The sintered molybdenum (MSiLY) with the addition of SiLY was prepared via the process of powder metallurgy. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical properties' testing were carried out to characterize the samples. The EDS results showed that elements of the SiLY in sintered molybdenum are composed of O, La, Si, Y and Mo. Microstructural observations showed that the MSiLY has a fine equiaxed grain, and SiLY dispersively distributed in grain interior and at grain boundary. Mechanical properties of sintered molybdenum have been improved significantly by the addition of SiLY. The fine grain structure and the particles distributed in the matrix can improve strength and toughness of sintered molybdenum. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.