Hot-hardness comparisons among isostructural Be₁₂X intermetallic compounds

Abstract

Hot hardness has been measured in seven isostructural Be₁₂X compounds: Be₁₂Cr, Be₁₂Mn, Be₁₂V, Be₁₂Mo, Be₁₂Ti, Be₁₂Ta, and Be₁₂Nb. All vacuum-hot-pressed (VHP) materials exhibited similar hardness levels (800 to 1000 kg/mm²) at low temperatures (<600 °C), but sharply diverged at higher temperatures. Most compounds showed a sharp decrease in hardness above about one-half their melting temperatures except for Be₁₂Nb and Be₁₂Ti which maintained strength until higher temperatures. Ductile-brittle transition temperatures (DBTT’s) of 600, 625, 690, 700, 700, and 850 °C were determined for Be₁₂Cr, Be₁₂Mn, Be₁₂V, Be₁₂Mo, Be₁₂Ti, and Be₁₂Nb, respectively. Hot-isostatically-pressed (HIP) and VHP Be₁₂Nb heats both showed comparable behavior, indicating that the temperature required for macroscopic plasticity is not dependent on processing conditions. Differences in slip characteristics were observed between beryllides with similar melting temperatures, but differing DBTT’s. Dislocations were activated on multiple slip systems in Bei2V during compressive deformation at 800 °C. Similar behavior was not observed in Be₁₂Nb until test temperatures above 1000 °C. It is proposed that dislocation mobility may be related to the stability between Be₁₂X and Be₁₇X₂ phases. Larger refractory metal atoms such as Nb may form faulted layers related to Be₁₇X₂ structures and thereby impede deformation at intermediate temperatures. Smaller atoms such as Cr, Mn, V, and Mo do not form a stable Be₁₇X₂ phase and thereby allow enhanced dislocation mobility at these temperatures.