Interaction mechanism between niobium-silicide-based alloy melt and Y2O3 refractory crucible in vacuum induction melting process

The Y2O3 crucibles were introduced in the study as an alternative to the traditional ceramic ones in vacuum induction melting of multi-component Nb-16Si-22Ti-2Al-2Hf-17Cr (at.%) alloys, to reveal the possible interactions between the alloy melt and the refractory crucible. Multiple melting time lengths and two cooling schemes were designed and used for the experiments. The chemical composition and microstructure of the tested alloy and the melt-crucible interaction were investigated and evaluated. In the experiments, Y2O3 crucible displays good physical-chemical compatibility. The results indicate that the increment of O element in the as-cast ingot is 0.03at.%-0.04at.% (72-97 ppm) and the increment of Y element is very insignificant. The key features of the alloy melt interacting with Y2O3 ceramics are analyzed and concluded in the paper. As a result of the dissolution reaction xY(2)O(3) (in molten alloy) + (1-x)HfO2 (impurity) -> Hf1-xY2xO2-x, a continuous double-layer solid film consisted of HfO2 solid solution (similar to 2 mu m) and pure HfO2 (similar to 5 mu m) is formed on the surface of the test ingot after cooled down in the crucible . The experimental results show that the Y2O3 crucible is applicable to the vacuum induction melting of Nb-Si based alloys.