Molybdenum High Temperature Alloy TZM (Mo99/Ti 0.5/Zr 0.1) - Rod - Material Information

The Molybdenum-Titanium-Zirconium (TZM) alloy is a high-performance refractory material developed to maintain strength and stability at extreme temperatures. Composed of approximately 99% Mo, 0.5% Ti, and 0.1% Zr (plus a small carbon addition), TZM exhibits exceptional creep resistance, thermal conductivity, and mechanical integrity up to 1400 °C. These properties make it a vital material in aerospace, nuclear, and defense applications where both high strength and oxidation resistance are essential.

Material Overview

TZM is a solid-solution–strengthened molybdenum alloy with fine TiC and ZrC precipitates that impede dislocation motion, enhancing high-temperature strength and ductility. The alloy’s typical density is around 10.2 g/cm³, with a tensile strength exceeding 690 MPa at room temperature and 350 MPa at 1000 °C. Cockeram (2002) demonstrated that fracture toughness values for TZM alloys transition from 5.8 MPa?m at cryogenic temperatures to above 30 MPa?m at 150 °C, reflecting remarkable ductile-to-brittle behavior control through alloying. Han (2009) further emphasized the importance of dispersion and solution strengthening in achieving superior performance compared to pure molybdenum, enabling use in nuclear and aerospace structures.

Modern processing innovations, such as field-assisted sintering (FAST), have improved TZM’s density and hardness. Browning et al. (2017) achieved >99% relative density and a 75% hardness increase by incorporating nanoscale titanium carbide, reducing grain size by over 95%. In 2022, Zhang et al. demonstrated that applying Si–MoSi? coatings reduced mass loss during 1200 °C oxidation from 2.488 mg/cm² to only 0.021 mg/cm²—an improvement of over two orders of magnitude—by forming a self-healing SiO? protective layer. These developments highlight the alloy’s adaptability to severe thermal environments and extended lifetimes.

Applications and Advantages

TZM’s unique combination of thermal conductivity, strength, and oxidation resistance makes it indispensable in furnace components, die-casting molds, rocket nozzles, and nuclear reactors. It retains mechanical integrity under high radiation flux and prolonged stress, outperforming conventional superalloys. In aerospace and defense systems, TZM components withstand aggressive thermal cycling while maintaining dimensional stability. Coating technologies continue to expand its role in next-generation energy and propulsion systems.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow supplies TZM alloy in rod form, with options for custom diameters and high-purity compositions tailored for research or high-temperature engineering applications. Explore TZM and other refractory materials through the Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Cockeram, B. V. (2002). Measuring the fracture toughness of molybdenum-0.5% titanium-0.1% zirconium and oxide dispersion-strengthened molybdenum alloys. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 33A, 3607–3622. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11661-002-0242-Y
• Han, Y. (2009). Recent progress in research on TZM alloy. Materials Review, 23(6), 1–6.
• Browning, P. N., Fignar, J., Kulkarni, A. K., & Singh, J. (2017). Sintering behavior and mechanical properties of Mo-TZM alloyed with nanotitanium carbide. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 66, 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2016.10.002
• Zhang, Y. Y., Fu, T., Yu, L., Shen, F. Z., Wang, J., & Cui, K. (2022). Improving oxidation resistance of TZM alloy by deposited Si–MoSi? composite coating with high silicon concentration. Ceramics International, 48(17), 24832–24842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.04.080
• Majumdar, S., & Sharma, I. G. (2010). Development of Mo base TZM (Mo-0.5Ti-0.1Zr-0.02C) alloy and its shapes. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Technical Report.