Overview of High Temperature Structural Silicides

High temperature structural suicides represent an important new class of structural materials, with significant potential applications in the range of 1200–1600 °C under oxidizing and aggressive environments. Suicides, particularly those based on MoSi2, are considered to be promising due to their combination of high melting point, elevated temperature oxidation resistance, brittle-to-ductile transition, and electrical conductivity. Possible structural uses for suicides include their application as matrices in structural suicide composites, as reinforcements for structural ceramic matrix composites, as high temperature joining materials for structural ceramic components, and as oxidation-resistant coatings for refractory metals and carbon-based materials. The historical development of structural suicides, their potential applications, and important issues related to their use are discussed.