Infiltration of Mo-containing material with silicon

An integral polycrystalline composite having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees and a phase composition consisting essentially of a silicide of molybdenum in an amount of at least about 5% by volume of the composite, elemental silicon in an amount of at least about 1% by volume of the composite, and a member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material which does not react with silicon, diamond, a silicide of a metal other than molybdenum having a melting point higher than about 1430.degree. C., a mixture of said silicide member of said group with an elemental metal other than molybdenum which reacts with silicon to form a silicide thereof having a melting point higher than about 1430.degree. C., and a mixture thereof, said member being present in an amount of at least about 90% by volume of said composite, said silicide of molybdenum being formed in situ, said composite being bonded by at least said silicide of molybdenum, said composite having a substantially uniform porosity of less than about 5% by volume of the composite.

An integral polycrystalline composite having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees and a phase composition consisting essentially of a silicide of molybdenum in an amount of at least about 5% by volume of the composite, elemental silicon in an amount of at least about 1% by volume of the composite, and a member selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, cubic boron nitride, aluminum nitride, diamond, a silicide of titanium, a silicide of chromium, a silicide of tungsten, a silicide of silver, a silicide of aluminum, elemental molybdenum, a mixture of said silicide of titanium and elemental titanium, a mixture of said silicide of chromium and elemental chromium, a mixture of said silicide of tungsten and elemental tungsten, a mixture of said silicide of silver and elemental silver, a mixture of said silicide of aluminum and elemental aluminum and a mixture thereof, said member of said group being present in an amount of at least about 80% by volume of the composite, said silicide of molybdenum being formed in situ, said composite being bonded by at least said silicide of molybdenum, said composite having a substantially uniform porosity of less than about 10% by volume of said composite.

An integral polycrystalline composite having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees and a phase composition consisting essentially of a silicide of molybdenum in an amount of at least about 5% by volume of the composite, elemental silicon in an amount of at least about 1% by volume of the composite, and a ceramic material which does not react with silicon in an amount of at least about 90% by volume of the composite, said silicide of molybdenum being formed in situ, said composite being bonded by at least said silicide of molybdenum, said compact having a substantially uniform porosity of less than about 5% by volume of said composite.

An integral polycrystalline composite having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees and a phase composition consisting essentially of a silicide of molybdenum in an amount of at least about 5% by volume of the composite, elemental silicon in an amount of at least about 1% by volume of the composite, and a member selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, cubic boron nitride, aluminum nitride, and diamond, said member of said group being present in an amount of at least about 80% by volume of the composite, said silicide of molybdenum being formed in situ, said composite being bonded by at least said silicide of molybdenum, said composite having a substantially uniform porosity of less than about 10% by volume of said composite.

An integral polycrystalline composite having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees and a phase composition consisting essentially of a silicide of molybdenum in an amount of at least about 5% by volume of the composite, elemental silicon in an amount of at least about 1% by volume of the composite, and a member selected from the group consisting of a silicide of titanium, a silicide of chromium, a silicide of tungsten, a silicide of silver, a silicide of aluminum, molybdenum, a mixture of a silicide of titanium and elemental titanium, a mixture of a silicide of chromium and elemental chromium, a mixture of a silicide of tungsten and elemental tungsten, a mixture of a silicide of silver and elemental silver, a mixture of a silicide of aluminum and elemental aluminum, and a mixture thereof, said silicide of molybdenum being formed in situ, said member being present in an amount of at least about 80% by volume of said composite, said composite being bonded by at least said silicide of molybdenum, said composite having a substantially uniform porosity of less than about 10% by volume of said composite.

An integral polycrystalline composite having a contact angle of less than 90 degrees and a phase composition consisting essentially of a silicide of molybdenum in an amount of at least about 5% by volume of the composite, elemental silicon in an amount of at least about 1% by volume of the composite, and a member selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, cubic boron nitride, aluminum nitride, diamond, a silicide of titanium, a silicide of chromium, a silicide of tungsten, a silicide of silver, a silicide of aluminum, elemental molybdenum, a mixture of said silicide of titanium and elemental titanium, a mixture of said silicide of chromium and elemental chromium, a mixture of said silicide of tungsten and elemental tungsten, a mixture of said silicide of silver and elemental silver, a mixture of said silicide of aluminum and elemental aluminum and a mixture thereof, said member of said group being present in an amount of at least about 50% by volume of the composite, said silicide of molybdenum being formed in situ, said composite being bonded by at least said silicide of molybdenum, said composite having a substantially uniform porosity of less than about 10% by volume of said composite.