SINTERING BEHAVIOR AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATED SINTERED MOLYBDENUM

Molybdenum compacts containing small additions of nickel were slowly heated to 1470 degree C in hydrogen and immediately cooled to room temperature. Some samples were additionally hot isostatically pressed. All compacts showed brittle grain boundary failure and their bend strength was dependent on compact grain size and the quantity of impurities and alloying additions (nickel) present at the grain boundaries. The oxygen content of as-received powders influenced shrinkage behavior, and therefore the mechanical properties. Microstructural design led to improvement of mechanical properties in some cases.