Microlaminate composites consisting of alternating layers of a high temperature intermetallic compound for elevated temperature strength and a ductile refractory metal for toughening may have uses in aircraft engine turbines. Microstructural stability at elevated temperatures is a crucial requirement for these composites. A microlaminate composite consisting of alternating layers of Cr2Nb and Nb(Cr) was produced by vapor phase deposition. The stability of the layers at elevated temperatures was investigated by cross-sectional TEM.The as-deposited composite consists of layers of a Nb(Cr) solid solution with a composition in atomic percent of 91% Nb and 9% Cr. It has a bcc structure with highly elongated grains. Alternating with this Nb(Cr) layer is the Cr2Nb layer. However, this layer has deposited as a fine grain Cr(Nb) solid solution with a metastable bcc structure and a lattice parameter about half way between that of pure Nb and pure Cr. The atomic composition of this layer is 60% Cr and 40% Nb. The interface between the layers in the as-deposited condition appears very flat (figure 1). After a two hour, 1200 °C heat treatment, the metastable Cr(Nb) layer transforms to the Cr2Nb phase with the C15 cubic structure. Grain coarsening occurs in the Nb(Cr) layer and the interface between the layers roughen. The roughening of the interface is a prelude to an instability of the interface at higher heat treatment temperatures with perturbations of the Cr2Nb grains penetrating into the Nb(Cr) layer.
