Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Because of its high melting point, excellent oxidation resistance and ductility at high temperatures, MoSi2 and its composites are attractive for elevated temperature applications. In this study, the compression creep behavior of hot pressed MoSi2 with various volume fraction of Si3N4 at 1200°C, 1300°C and 1400°C were investigated. Within the stress range of 115–425MPa, the stress exponent, n, was either 1 or 5 depended on the volume fraction of Si3N4. The activation energy of creep for MoSi2-50%Si3N4 composite was 750kJ/mol. At still higher volume fraction of Si3N4, the activation energy decreases to 693kJ/mol, which is the same as that for monolithic Si3N4.