Electron Microscopic Analysis of the Nb₅Si₃/NBC/NbSi₂ Composite Structure

The method of aluminothermic self-propagating high-temperature synthesis was used to obtain a composite material based on Nb-Si-C. The study of this system is of interest from the point of view of obtaining high-temperature materials of a new generation for gas turbine engine building, capable of replacing heat-resistant nickel alloys, as well as the potential possibility of forming MAX-phases (phases Mn + 1AXn where n = 1, 2, 3, ...; M is transitional d-metal, A – p-element, X – carbon). The resulting Nb-Si-C composite were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray spectral microanalysis. It is shown that NbC carbide and silicides γ-Nb5Si3 and NbSi2 are formed in the sample. A detailed analysis of the morphological distribution of the constituent phases has been carried out.