Microstructure and high temperature deformation behavior of the Mo-ZrO2 alloys

•The Mo-ZrO2 alloys were prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis and a powder metallurgy process.•The deformation behavior of the alloy at high temperature was studied.•The ZrO2 particles can effectively improve the deformation resistance of the alloys.•The strength effect increased with the increase of temperature.

The Mo-ZrO2 alloys were prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis and a powder metallurgy process. The grain size, density and hardness of the alloy sintered compacts were investigated. The deformation behavior of the alloy at high temperature was studied by using a Gleeble-1500D thermal simulated test machine. The strengthening effect of zirconia particles was found during the deformation process of the alloy at high temperature. The result shows the mechanical properties of the Mo-ZrO2 alloys were obviously improved due to the uniform distribution of the small second phase. After adding ZrO2, the hardness of the alloys has increased by 40%, and the high temperature strength of the alloy was increased. At the temperature of 1400 °C, the strength of the alloys was increased by 35% compared with that of the pure molybdenum. The ZrO2 particles can effectively improve the deformation resistance, resulting in increase of the mechanical properties of the Mo-ZrO2 alloys.