Process-Oriented Microstructure Evolution of Vss-V3Si-V5SiB2 Materials

Abstract Vanadium silicide alloys are potentially interesting high temperature materials, since they combine high mechanical strength at temperatures of up to 1 000 °C with a low density. In this study, the microstructures of innovative V-Si-B high temperature materials are examined using different analytical methods. The selected V-9Si-13B model alloy was manufactured using a powder metallurgical process route as well as an ingot metallurgical process. The alloys show a vanadium solid solution phase as well as the high-strength silicide phases V 3 Si and V 5 SiB 2 . Especially for the powder metallurgically fabricated alloy, showing finely dispersed phases, the quantification of microstructural constituents is difficult. The phases, however, can be separated from one another via computer tomography.