Compressive creep testing of MoSi2-SiC nanocomposites

The aim of this study is to investigate the creep resistance of molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2-SiC) based composites with different types of embedded particles. The materials were prepared via powder metallurgy using high temperature controlled reaction sintering (CRS). The creep experiments were performed in uniaxial compression at constant stress in the temperature range from 1273 K (1000 °C) to 1473 K (1200 °C) for applied stress from 50 to 100 MPa. Creep was tested by stepwise loading: in each step, the load was changed to a new value after steady state creep rate had been established. The applied stress dependences of the creep rate at different temperatures were analyzed in terms of stress exponent (n) and activation energy (Q). Possible rate-controlling mechanisms were suggested