SIMULTANEOUS SYNTHESIS AND DENSIFICATION OF MOSI2 BY FIELD-ACTIVATED COMBUSTION

A method to simultaneously synthesize and consolidate MoSi2 from powde rs of Mo and Si was investigated. Combustion synthesis was carried out under the combined effect of an electric field and mechanical pressur e, Highly dense molybdenum silicide up to (99.2%) was produced from el emental powders in one step, Minor amounts of Mo5Si3 were present at t he boundaries of MoSi2 grains in the interior of samples made from sto ichiometric reactants, The addition of 2.5 mol% Si excess, however, re sulted in Mo5Si3-free, dense MoSi2 products.