Molybdenum Alloy for Use in the Temperature Range from 500 °C to at least 900 °C

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The invention describes a novel molybdenum alloy specifically designed for use in high-temperature environments (500°C to at least 900°C). This alloy is produced by mixing molybdenum (or a molybdenum-based alloy) with selected metal oxides (such as zinc oxide, calcium oxide, manganese oxide, magnesium oxide, or nickel oxide) by powder metallurgy, then heat-treating the mix in an oxidizing atmosphere. This process forms a continuous metal-molybdate layer on the surface of the material, which prevents catastrophic oxidation and degradation of molybdenum within this critical temperature range.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Gas turbines, including those for power plants and aircraft engines, where higher efficiency at elevated temperatures is needed.
• Industrial furnaces, heating elements, or reactors requiring durable high-temperature structural materials not prone to rapid oxidation.
• Heat exchangers or components in chemical plants exposed to air at high temperatures.
• Parts in electronics or battery systems benefitting from high-temperature stability and improved oxidation resistance.
• Any application where traditional molybdenum or nickel alloys would fail due to oxidation in the 500–900°C range.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Substantially increased oxidation resistance for molybdenum alloys, enabling their use in previously unsuitable temperature ranges without vacuum or inert gas shielding.
• Prevention of catastrophic material failure caused by molybdenum trioxide volatilization in air, expanding the range of safe applications.
• Simple and cost-effective manufacturing using available powders and conventional powder metallurgy techniques.
• Customizable alloy composition by varying the metal oxide additives, allowing tuning to specific applications and temperature limits.
• Potential to improve performance and efficiency in high-temperature systems like turbines by allowing higher operating temperatures.
• Ability to form additional protective or functional phases (such as silicates) for further tailoring material properties.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a molybdenum alloy for use in the temperature range from 500 °C to at least 900 °C, obtainable via a powder metallurgical process using the starting element molybdenum or a molybdenum-based base alloy and at least one metal oxide as starting materials and a heat treatment at a temperature in the range from 500 °C to a maximum of 1000 °C in an oxidizing atmosphere until a closed metal molybdate layer is formed, wherein the metal of the metal molybdate layer originates from the at least one metal oxide, which is selected from a group consisting of zinc oxide (ZnO), calcium oxide (CaO), a manganese oxide (MnO2, Mn2O3), magnesium oxide (MgO), nickel oxide (NiO). Molybdenum and the at least one metal oxide are mixed with each other in a mass ratio in which molybdenum has the same mass or a mass excess compared to the at least one metal oxide.