Morphology of Sintered Cr-Mo Porous Materials

Chromium and molybdenum exhibit continuous solubility in the solid phase region at temperatures of 908°C and above [1]. At lower temperatures, the system exhibits a miscibility gap. Furthermore a congruent minimum in the liquidus boundary exists at 1854°C. Chromium and molybdenum powders with different particle morphologies were mixed and porous green parts were produced by pressing. Sintering experiments were performed at different temperatures and for different chromium to molybdenum ratios. To investigate the evolution of the microstructure, sintering was interrupted at different temperatures and points in time. The microstructure and morphology of the sintered parts was investigated by scanning electron microscopy as well as light optical microscopy. It was found that during sintering, a Cr-Mo solid solution is formed. Depending on the molybdenum content, this induces either shrinking or swelling of the porous parts. Samples exhibited a linear expansion of up to 10% and final porosities of up to 65%.