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 MoSi2-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 αMoSi2 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.