Effects of high energy milling on densification behaviour of Mo–Si powder mixtures during pressureless sintering

The present paper reports on basic investigations of the controlled reaction sintering of MoSi 2-based materials, including particle reinforced composites. It is shown, that certain amounts of pre-formed silicide phase in the powder mixtures are useful to achieve high densities by pressureless sintering of green compacts. This partial phase formation of αMoSi 2 can already take place during the mechanical treatment of the elemental powder mixtures by milling. In this context the role of volume changes linked with the phase formations is discussed.