Analysis of an alloying process for NbSi-based composites in a cold crucible induction furnace with the use of the particle tracing method

Refractory metals based on niobium are progressively attracting interest in the industrial world for the production of components used in high-temperature environments. With superior thermal and mechanical properties compared to those of nickel-based superalloys, NbSi composites represent a promising alterative for the fabrication of turbine components, and they open a way to the further increase of their efficiency. But the melting process of such refractories still faces relevant technical limitations related to their high melting point, chemical reactivity and poor homogenization of the alloy. For these reasons, numerical simulations play a fundamental role in detailed analysis of their melting process. With the help of multiphysical simulations and the particle tracing method, the addition of targeted metals into the NbSi base is investigated and optimized. Table 2, Figs 6, Refs 16.