High Temperature Materials - Recent Developments for Future Challenges

The introduction of the talk provides an overview on materials research in IEK-2 (Institute for Energy and Climate Research, Materials Characterization) in Forschungszentrum Jülich. Selected examples of metallic and ceramic high performance materials for applications in energy conversion and storage systems are introduced, e.g. new materials for membranes, coatings or turbine blades. The main part of the presentation focuses on recent developments of novel high temperature Mo‑Si‑B materials, which are potential candidates to substitute Ni-base superalloys in power plants or aircraft turbines. Such alloys include a Mo solid solution phase as well as silicides, which are creep and oxidation resistant, but very brittle phases. The challenge is to balance the properties at ambient temperatures and high temperatures to tailor these multi-phase alloys for the use in a wide temperature range up to 1200°C and various mechanical loads. Concepts of material design, i.e. alloying strategy and process-microstructure-properties relationships are presented in terms of improved mechanical properties and oxidation resistance. The effect of additional elements on the mechanical properties, like fracture toughness, ductile-brittle-transition and creep resistance will be described. The presentation also includes the formation of isotropic and anisotropic microstructures by powder metallurgy, directional solidification and additive manufacturing. The latter process is quite challenging due to ultra-high melting temperatures of >2000°C and corresponding difficulties during melting and rapid cooling.