Molybdenum-tungsten (Mo-W) alloy sputtering targets are widely utilized in fields like electronics, nanotechnology, sensors, and as gate electrodes for TFT-LCDs, owing to their superior properties such as hightemperature stability, low thermal expansion coefficient, electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance. To achieve optimal performance in application, these targets’ purity, relative density, and grain size of these targets must be carefully controlled. We utilized nanopowders, prepared via the Pechini method, to obtain uniform and fine powders, then carried out spark plasma sintering (SPS) to densify these powders. Our studies revealed that the sintered compacts made from these nanopowders exhibited outstanding features, such as a high relative density of more than 99%, consistent grain size of 3.43 μm, and shape, absence of preferred orientation.

Molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) is used in various applications including sensors, photocatalysts, and batteries owing to its excellent ionic conductivity and thermal properties. It can also be used as a precursor in the hydrogen reduction process to obtain molybdenum metals. Control of the parameters governing the MoO₃ synthesis process is extremely important because the size and shape of MoO₃ in the reduction process affect the shape, size, and crystallization of Mo metal. In this study, we fabricated MoO₃ nanoparticles using a solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method that utilizes an organic additive, thereby controlling their morphology. The nucleation behavior and particle morphology were confirmed using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The concentration of the precursor (ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate) was adjusted to be 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 M. Depending on this concentration, different nucleation rates were obtained, thereby resulting in different particle morphologies.

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• Characterization of Compacted and Pressureless Sintered Parts for Molybdenum Oxide Powder according to Hydrogen Reduction Temperature
  Jong Hoon Lee, Kun-Jae Lee
  Journal of Powder Materials.2024; 31(4): 336.     CrossRef

In this study, lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) dispersed molybdenum (Mo–La₂O₃) alloys are fabricated using lanthanum nitrate solution and nanosized Mo particles produced by hydrogen reduction of molybdenum oxide. The effect of La₂O₃ dispersion in a Mo matrix on the fracture toughness at room temperature is demonstrated through the formation behavior of La₂O₃ from the precursor and three-point bending test using a single-edge notched bend specimen. The relative density of the Mo–0.3La₂O₃ specimen sintered by pressureless sintering is approximately 99%, and La₂O₃ with a size of hundreds of nanometers is uniformly distributed in the Mo matrix. It is also confirmed that the fracture toughness is 19.46 MPa·m^1/2, an improvement of approximately 40% over the fracture toughness of 13.50 MPa·m^1/2 on a pure-Mo specimen without La₂O₃, and this difference in the fracture toughness occurs because of the changes in fracture mode of the Mo matrix caused by the dispersion of La₂O₃.

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• Sintering property of micro/nano core-shell molybdenum powder synthesized by mechanochemical process
  Chun Woong Park, Heeyeon Kim, Won Hee Lee, Wonjune Choi, Jongmin Byun, Young Do Kim
  International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials.2024; 119: 106532.     CrossRef
• Novel design of Mo-Si-B + La2O3 powder with multi-shell structure for ideal microstructure and enhanced mechanical property
  Wonjune Choi, Chun Woong Park, Young Do Kim, Jongmin Byun
  International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials.2024; 120: 106611.     CrossRef

Molybdenum silicide has gained interest for high temperature structural applications. However, poor fracture toughness at room temperatures and low creep resistance at elevated temperatures have hindered its practical applications. This study uses a novel powder metallurgical approach applied to uniformly mixed molybdenum silicidebased composites with silicon carbide. The degree of powder mixing with different ball milling time is also demonstrated by Voronoi diagrams. Core-shell composite powder with Mo nanoparticles as the shell and β-SiC as the core is prepared via chemical vapor transport. Using this prepared core-shell composite powder, the molybdenum silicide-based composites with uniformly dispersed β-SiC are fabricated using pressureless sintering. The relative density of the specimens sintered at 1500°C for 10 h is 97.1%, which is similar to pressure sintering owing to improved sinterability using Mo nanoparticles.

The connecting rod is one of the most important parts in automotive engines, transforming the reciprocal motion of a piston generated by internal combustion into the rotational motion of a crankshaft. Recent advances in high performance automobile engines demand corresponding technological breakthroughs in the materials for engine parts. In the present research, the powder metallurgy (P/M) process was used to replace conventional quenching and/or tempering processes for mass production and ultimately for more cost-efficient manufacturing of high strength connecting rods. The development of P/M alloy powder was undertaken not only to achieve the improvement in mechanical properties, but also to enhance the machinability of the P/M processed connecting rods. Specifically MoS₂ powders were added as lubricants to non-normalizing Fe-Cr-Mn-V-C alloy powder to improve the post-sintering machinability. The effects of MoS₂ addition on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and machining characteristics were investigated.