Abstract: The directionally solidified samples of an ultra-high temperature Nb-Si- Ti-Hf-Cr-Al alloy have been prepared with the use of an electron beam floating zone melting (EBFZM)furnace, and their microstructural characteristics have been analyzed. All the primary dendrites of Nb solid solution (Nbss), euteetic colonies of Nbss plus (Nb, Ti)3 Si//(Nb, Ti)5 Si3 and chains of (Nb, Ti)3 Si/(Nb, Ti)5 Si3 plates align along the growth direction of the samples. With increasing of the withdrawing rate, the microstructure is refined, and the amounts of Nbss+(Nb, Ti)3 Si/(Nb, Ti)5 Si3 euteetic colonies and (Nb, Ti)3 Si/(Nb, Ti)5 Si3 plates increase. There appear nodes in the (Nb, Ti)3 Si/(Nb, Ti)5 Si3 plates.

Key words: ultra-high temperature alloy, Nb-Si based alloy, in situ composite