Dislocation and amorphous ribbons strengthening in tungsten silicide under high pressure and temperature

Tungsten disilicide (WSi₂) is a promising material for high-temperature applications due to its excellent mechanical properties and superior thermal stability. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying the performance enhancement of polycrystalline WSi₂ and tungsten silicide (W-Si) composites synthesized by high-temperature and high-pressure (HPHT) strategies, focusing on their phase composition and microstructure. The results show that high pressure can effectively reduce the synthesis temperature of the tungsten silicide system, with the phase composition and microstructure of the products being dominated by the treatment temperature. The high intergranular strain resulting from the reactive process and the HPHT environment facilitated the formation of high-density dislocations, including dislocation arrays and networks with multiple orientations, especially near the grain boundaries. Additionally, a 3-nm thick amorphous ribbons were identified between these boundaries. This microstructure, characterized by high-density dislocations and amorphous ribbons, confers exceptional mechanical properties and oxidation resistance. The differences in oxidation behavior between powder and bulk WSi₂ samples underscore the complex relationship between phase stability and material properties under varying processing conditions. These findings indicate that dislocations and amorphous ribbons can achieve in high-temperature ceramics with strong covalent bonding, which is essential for the design and synthesis of advanced W-Si-based ceramics.