Experimental study of Moss–T2, Moss–Mo3Si–T2, and Mo3Si–T2 eutectic reactions in Mo-rich Mo–Si–B alloys

• Solidification behavior was examined through careful experimental approaches.
• This study suggested accurate method for microstructure analysis.
• Interesting behavior for microstructure formation was shown.
• Compositional data of eutectic phases were suggested.

The phase formation behavior during solidification of Mo–Si–B ternary alloys in the Mo-rich compositional portion was experimentally examined with special attention to the Moss–T2 and Mo–Mo3Si–T2 eutectics. Primary phases observed in this study were in very good agreement with those shown in a liquidus projection thermodynamically calculated by Yang and Chang. A Mo–9.5Si–14.2B (at.%) alloy, which has a composition close to the Moss–T2 eutectic point, had two specific microstructural areas consisting of a superfine Moss–T2 eutectic and a fine Moss–Mo3Si–T2 three-phase eutectic. A Mo–19.1Si–6.5B alloy aimed to the Moss–Mo3Si–T2 eutectic point also had a fine Mo3Si–T2 eutectic and a Moss–Mo3Si–T2 eutectic. The compositions of the eutectic phases were determined by electron probe micro-analysis calibrated using a multipoint measurement method and details of the solidification pathways in the Mo-rich compositional portion are discussed based on the experimentally obtained results compared with the liquidus projection.