Introduction to Molybdenum Alloys

Molybdenum alloys are non-ferrous alloys composed of molybdenum as a matrix, with the addition of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tungsten, rhenium, and rare earth elements. They possess high melting points, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and excellent high-temperature strength (1100-1650℃). Their properties are enhanced through solid solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening, and carbide dispersion strengthening mechanisms. They are mainly used in aerospace components, nuclear reactor components, electron tubes, and military equipment manufacturing.

This material was first produced using powder metallurgy in 1910, and its development was further propelled by consumable arc melting technology after 1945. In the 1950s, Mo-0.5Ti-0.02C and TZM alloys were developed, and in the 1970s, Mo-Hf-C alloys were developed. China established molybdenum product production lines in the late 1950s, gradually achieving product series production of pipes, plates, and other materials. Since the beginning of the 21st century, breakthroughs in grain control technology have been achieved in nanostructured dispersion-strengthened molybdenum alloys, and rare earth doping has significantly improved resistance to high-temperature deformation. Alloys such as TZM and ZHM have been applied on a large scale in fields such as rocket engine nozzles and photovoltaic cell backsheets.