Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Britannica Sources used in this answer

What is the maximum temperature for molybdenum disilicide heating elements in air?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of a zirconia oxygen sensor used to monitor automobile exhaust gases. The sensor, approximately the size of a spark plug, is fitted into the exhaust manifold of an automobile engine. The thimble-shaped zirconia sensor, sandwiched between thin layers of porous platinum, is exposed on its interior to outside air and on its exterior to exhaust gas passing through slits in the sensor shield. The two platinum surfaces serve as electrodes, conducting a voltage across the zirconia that varies according to the difference in oxygen content between the exhaust gas and the outside air.
conductive ceramics Figure 1: Schematic diagram of a zirconia oxygen sensor used to monitor automobile exhaust gases. The sensor, approximately the size of a spark plug, is fitted into the exhaust manifold of an automobile engine. The thimble-shaped zirconia sensor, sandwiched between thin layers of porous platinum, is exposed on its interior to outside air and on its exterior to exhaust gas passing through slits in the sensor shield. The two platinum surfaces serve as electrodes, conducting a voltage across the zirconia that varies according to the difference in oxygen content between the exhaust gas and the outside air.

The maximum temperature for molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2) heating elements in air is 1,800 °C (3,270 °F).1

Molybdenum disilicide is a semimetal with high conductivity that is particularly effective in oxidizing environments. Like silicon carbide, it forms a protective silica-glass surface layer that prevents oxidation, allowing it to function at these elevated temperatures where many metal alloys would fail.1