Intergranular fracture surface analysis of molybdenum

Bend properties of plasma beam and/or electron beam melted molybdenum and several dilute alloys containing C, B, T, V and Re were investigated. Fracture surfaces and microstructure were examined in detail by SEM and AES. Considerable intergranular fracture occurred in almost all of the samples as the test temperature decreased. But proper alloy addition, such as B and Ti, and hot-rolling induced a change in the fracture mode to a transgranular mode. Segregation of nitrogen and/or oxygen to grain boundaries was often recognized in plasma beam or electron beam melted ingots and decreased the strength of grain boundaries. Small precipitates due to comparatively low alloy addition such as C, B, Ti and Re, were effective to enhance the grain boundary cohesion.