High-temperature composite articles and associated methods of manufacture

A method for forming a refractory metal-intermetallic composite article, the method comprising:

• providing a first powder comprising a refractory metal suitable for forming a metal phase;
• providing a second powder comprising a silicide precursor suitable for forming an intermetallic phase;
• blending the first powder and the second powder to form a powder blend;
• consolidating and mechanically deforming the powder blend at a first temperature;
• and
• reacting the powder blend at a second temperature to form the metal phase and the intermietallic phase of the refractory metal-intermetallic composite article, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature;
• wherein the first powder comprises at least one of niobium, titanium, and molybdenum;
• and the second powder comprises at least one of silicon, germanium, and boron wherein the refractory metal-intermetallic composite has a graded composition.