The tensile response of Mo, Mo–Re and Mo–Si solid solutions

•Recrystallized Mo is ductile at room temperature.•Recrystallized Mo–27 at.% Re alloy is solid solution hardened to at least 800 °C.•Recrystallized Mo–27 at.% Re alloy loses ductility in the 500 °C–800 °C regime.•Recrystallized Mo–0.3 at.% Si alloy is softer than pure Mo at room temperature.•Mo–0.3 at.% Si solid solution is ductile at room temperature.

Recrystallized, commercially pure Mo, binary Mo–27 at.% Re, and as-extruded and variously annealed Mo–0.3 at.% Si alloys were tested in uniaxial tension as a function of temperature in vacuum. The Mo–Re solid solution is significantly stronger than Mo and retains the strength to at least 800 °C. The alloy exhibits serrated flow in the 500 °C–800 °C range and this is accompanied by a continuous decrease in ductility with increasing temperature in this temperature range. The recrystallized Mo–0.3 at.% Si alloy is softer than pure Mo at room temperature and has high ductility (~ 60% tensile elongation). In the worked condition, it is significantly stronger (σy > 600 MPa) but still is ductile at room temperature (~ 10% tensile elongation). The observation of ductility at room temperature in this Mo–0.3 at.% Si solid solution alloy has important implications for multiphase ternary Mo–Si–B alloys of technological interest.