Oxidation behaviour of the Mo–Si–B and Mo–Si–B–Al alloys in the temperature range of 700–1300 °C

The isothermal oxidation kinetics of molybdenum silicide based alloys with composition (in at.%) as 76Mo–14Si–10B (MSB), 77Mo–12Si–8B–3Al (MSB3AL), and 73.4Mo–11.2Si–8.1B–7.3Al (MSB7.3AL) processed by reaction hot pressing of elemental powders, have been investigated in the temperature range of 700–1300 °C in dry air for 24 h. The microstructures of all the alloys have shown the presence of α-Mo, Mo3Si, Mo5SiB2 and SiO2 or α-Al2O3 phases. The oxidation kinetics and the resulting scale characteristics depend on the alloy composition and temperature of exposure. While all the three alloys show unabated loss of mass causing pest disintegration at 700 °C, the MSB3AL and MSB7.3AL alloys undergo large mass loss in the range of 800–900 °C as well. The loss in mass has been attributed primarily to volatilization of MoO3 as well as spallation. The oxide scales formed in the range of 700–800 °C show SiO2 and MoO3, while those formed at 900 °C or above contain Mo, MoO2 and SiO2. In addition, α-Al2O3 or mullite has been found in the oxide scales of MSB3AL and MSB7.3AL alloys. The oxidation resistance of the Mo–Si–B alloys can be enhanced in the range of 700–800 °C by pre-oxidation treatment at 1150 °C to form a protective scale of B2O3–SiO2.