High-temperature synthesis of composites based on nickel aluminides

We have examined conditions for the preparation of a NiAl + MoB + Mo composite material through thermally conjugate self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reactions with an aluminothermic reduction step. The reduction reactions involved have been thermodynamically assessed, and the elemental and phase compositions of the obtained materials have been determined. The composite has been shown to consist of the intermetallic phase NiAl with β-MoB inclusions, which have high microhardness values (26.32 GPa).