Mechanical and diffusion properties of refractory me--tal and alloy monocrystals

The temperature dependence of mechanical properties of single crystals Mo, W, Ta, Nb and of alloys Mo-Ta and Nb-Ta has been investigated from the point of view of diffusion processes. The curve of the dependence of the ultimate strength upon the temperature has shown four discontinuities corresponding to various stages of development of intercrystalline and volume diffusions. It is shown that for close-to-ideal solid solutions of Nb-Ta alloys the temperature dependence of the strength properties is the same as for pure metals. In case of appreciable deviations from ideal properties (system Mo-Ta), the drops in strength, due to volume diffusion, shift toward higher temperatures