The effect of in-situ ZrO2 on compressive properties of molybdenum-rhenium alloys and strengthening mechanism

Molybdenum-rhenium alloys has a low recrystallization temperature and insufficient high temperature strength, making it unable to serve as structural parts for a long time in high temperature environments above 1300 ℃ for a long time. ZrO 2 dispersion strengthened Mo-Re alloy was prepared by liquid-liquid doping combined with hydrogen reduction. The morphology and distribution of ZrO 2 were adjusted by liquid-liquid doping-coprecipitation-codeposition technology, with ZrO 2 dispersed in the grain of Mo-Re alloy to refine the grain. The average grain size is reduced from 14.99 μm to 8.41 μm, and the yield strength is 539 MPa, representing an increase of 16.2 %. When the strain is 43 %, the high temperature compression performance at 1400 ℃ reaches 214 MPa, which is 28.1 % higher than that of Mo-Re. The enhanced performance is attributed to the dislocation pinning of ZrO 2 and the formation of a semi-conformal interface between ZrO 2 and the matrix, which addresses the issue of weak interfacial bonding to reinforce Mo-Re alloys. It provides a new idea for the design of Mo-Re alloys structural components such as space fission reactors fuel cladding in ultra-high temperature environment. • ZrO 2 doped Mo-based alloys was prepared by liquid-liquid doping method. • Compressive strength of Mo-5Re-1ZrO 2 alloys increases 28.1 % in comparison with Mo-5Re. • ZrO 2 doped Mo-based alloys has good high temperature strength. • Provides a hydrothermal synthesis process which can be industrially applied.