MoLa alloys have great formability at all grade levels when compared to pure molybdenum in the same condition. Pure molybdenum recrystallizes at approximately 1200 °C and becomes very brittle with less than 1% elongation, which makes it not formable in this condition.
MoLa alloys in plate and sheet forms perform better than pure molybdenum and TZM for high temperature applications. That is above 1100 °C for molybdenum and above 1500 °C for TZM. The maximum advisable temperature for MoLa is 1900 °C, due to the release of lanthana particles from the surface at higher than 1900 °C temperature.
The “best value” MoLa alloy is the one containing 0.6 wt % lanthana. It exhibits the best combination of properties. Low lanthana MoLa alloy is an equivalent substitute for pure Mo in the temperature range of 1100 °C – 1900 °C. The advantages of high lanthana MoLa, like superior creep resistance, are only realized, if the material is recrystallized prior to use at high temperatures.