Microwave sintering of MoSi2–Mo5Si3 to promote a final nanometer-scale microstructure and suppressing of pesting phenomenon

This work shows an innovative sintering process for molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) and molybdenum silicide (Mo5Si3) in order to have a final nanometer-scale microstructure. Sintered MoSi2–Mo5Si3 was fabricated by microwave sintering. The final material showed a significant reduction of pesting phenomena for MoSi2. The final microstructure is a mix of micrometer-scale MoSi2 and nanometer-scale Mo5Si3 immersed in an amorphous SiO2 phase. This material was characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA).