Microstructure and high-temperature deformation of the C15 NbCr₂-based Laves intermetallics in Nb–Cr–V alloy system

The microstructure and the high-temperature deformation behavior of the C15 NbCr₂ intermetallics alloyed with V, which consist of both the C15 monophase and the duplex structure with the bcc solid solution, are observed by some microscopic techniques and compression tests. The alloys consisting of the C15 monophase microstructure show moderately higher 0.2% yield stress than the unalloyed NbCr₂, and the same BDTT as that in the unalloyed NbCr₂, indicating a moderate improvement of the high temperature deformability. This result is attributed to the larger atomic free volumes between the atomic stacking layers along the {111} planes than those of the unalloyed NbCr₂. The alloys consisting of the duplex microstructure show lower 0.2% yield stress and considerably decreased BDTT than the unalloyed NbCr₂. The considerable deformation improvement in this group of alloys is attributed to the existence of the ductile bcc solid solution.