Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
New materials with improved high temperature properties are required for higher efficiency gas turbines. One group of alloys which show promise in this area are the eutectic systems Cr-Cr3Si, Nb-Nb3Si, and V-V3Si. Crystals of these refractory metalsilicide eutectics were directionally solidified using Czochralski crystal growth in conjunction with cold crucible levitation melting. The crystals were examined using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In the present paper, these systems are examined with respect to the directionally solidified eutectic microstructures, phase equilibria, crystallography and mechanical properties.