Tensile properties of multiphase refractory Nb–16Si–2Fe in situ composite

Nb–16Si–2Fe in situ composite consisting of an Nb solid solution and the intermetallic phases Nb3Si, Nb5Si3 and Nb4Fe3Si5 were synthesized by hot pressing sintering to yield a fine microstructure with all four phases being in the size of micrometer range. The tensile elongation of this composite reaches 2 and 95% at room temperature and at 1300 °C, respectively. At 1350 °C and higher temperature, the material exhibits superplasticity. The tensile elongation reaches 512% at 1450 °C.