Analyses of eutectoid phase transformations in Nb-silicide in situ composites.

Nb-silicide in situ composites have great potential for high-temperature turbine applications. Nb-silicide composites consist of a ductile Nb-based solid solution together with high-strength silicides, such as Nb5Si3 and Nb3Si. With the appropriate addition of alloying elements, such as Ti, Hf, Cr, and Al, it is possible to achieve a promising balance of room-temperature fracture toughness, high-temperature creep performance, and oxidation resistance.