Isothermal and cyclic oxidation behaviour of hot-pressed MSi2 compounds (with M = V, Ti, Cr)

• The oxidation behaviour of MSi2 with M = V, Ti, Cr was investigated from 450 to 950 °C in air.
• CrSi2, VSi2 and TiSi2 were not subjected to the pest phenomenon at 650 °C over 800 1-h cycles.
• The MSi2 compounds were all subjected to the simultaneous oxidation of M and Si.
• Increasing the duration of oxidation enhanced the protective properties of the silica scale.
• The formation of V2O5 induced a higher oxidation rate compared with CrSi2 and TiSi2.

The oxidation resistance of MSi2 compounds with M = V, Ti, Cr was investigated from 450 to 950 °C in air under isothermal and cyclic conditions. Vanadium, chromium and titanium disilicide were not subjected to the pest phenomenon at 650 °C over 800 1-h cycles. The results demonstrated very low weight gains regardless of the testing conditions. Oxidation tests were also performed over long duration (1000 h) to identify the oxidation products. The MSi2 compounds were all subjected to the simultaneous oxidation of M and Si despite the formation of a protective silica scale. Increasing the duration of oxidation enhanced the protective properties of the silica scale. Therefore, short-term measurements (by thermogravimetry) did not allow an extrapolation of the MSi2 lifetime. The formation of molten V2O5 induced a higher oxidation rate of VSi2 and delayed the establishment of the protective silica scale compared with CrSi2 and TiSi2.