Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Mechanical alloying(MA) and Reactive Sintering(RS) techniques were successfully used to produce Nb5Si3. Model laminates of mechanically alloyed Nb5Si3 and commercially pure niobium were prepared via vacuum hot pressing. Tensile properties for the as-received, vacuum heat treated and niobium with a solid solution of silicon were obtained at 298K and 77K. 298K bend tests were conducted in an in situ deformation stage in a SEM. 77K bend tests were also conducted. Toughness values are correlated to the ligament properties and effect of constraint.