AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ZIRCONIUMNIOBIUM-MOLYBDENUM SYSTEM

An investigation of the zirconium- niobium- molybdenum ternary alloys showed that the penitectic point of liquid Mo in equilibrium ZrMo/sub 2 at the composition of 32.2% zirconium at 1880 deg C probably decreases its temperature gradually with increasing niobium content and coincides with the eutectic point of liquid in equilibrium BETA solid solution + ZrMo/sub 2/ at the composition of 69% zirconium. The exact point where the peritectic reaction changes to the eutectic reaction could not be determined. No ternary compound may exist in the zirconium- niobium - molybdenum ternary system. A ternary eutectoid reaction was found to occur at about 535 deg C in the system. The non-variant point is assumed to be probably in the vicinity of 13% niobium and 8% molybdenum. The systematic equilibrium diagram obtained from the results and theoretical consi eration is illustrated. (P.C.H.)