Physico-chemical and structural approaches to creation of structural niobium-base alloys

Research of heat-resistant structural Nb-based alloys are analyzed. The physicochemical and structural approaches to creation of alloys with the solid-solution and/or dispersion hardening by the thermodynamically-stable interstitial phases (oxides, nitrides, carbides) are considered. The alloys of Nb-Ti-Al system, based on intermetallics with (σ+γ)-structure, are of practical interest due to combination of the strength, plastic properties and fracture toughness. It is shown that the heat resistance of Nb2Al-based alloys can be improved via rational alloying and appropriate processing.