Synthesis,Microstructure,and Property of Cr_2AlC

Cr2AlC is an unusual layered ternary ceramic that combines the merits of both metals and ceramics. The salient properties of Cr2AlC are strongly related to its bonding characteristics and microstructures. Synthesis, microstructure, and property of Cr2AlC are reviewed in this paper. First, theoretical calculations and physical properties are introduced. Then, the processing of Cr2AlC ceramic in both bulk form and thin films and their basic mechanical properties are summarized. Atomic-scale characterizations of Cr2AlC, as well as the microstructural relationships among Cr2AlC, AlCr5, and AlCr2 were achieved using a series of transmission electron microscopy （TEM） techniques. Moreover, high-temperature oxidation and hot corrosion behaviors of Cr2AlC were investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and TEM. Mechanism of the excellent high-temperature corrosion resistance of Cr2AlC is discussed based on systematic microstructural analyses. Finally, concise conclusions are drawn.

TEM Investigations on Layered Ternary Ceramics

Layered ternary ceramics represent a new class of solids that combine the merits of both metals and ceramics.These unique properties are strongly related to their layered crystal structures and microstructures. The combination of atomic-resolution Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy （STEM） and transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, selected area electron diffraction （SAED）, convergent beam electron diffraction （CBED） represents a powerful method to link microstructures of materials to macroscopic properties, allowing layered ternary ceramics to be investigated in an unprecedented detail. Vicrostructural information obtained using TEM is useful in understanding the formation mechanism, layered stacking characteristics, and defect structures for layered ternary ceramics down to atomic-scale level; and thus provides insight into understanding the ＂Processing-Structure-Property＂ relationship of layered ternary ceramics. Transmission electron microscopic characterizations of layered ternary ceramics in Ti-Si-C, Ti-Al-C, Cr-Al-C, Zr-Al-C, Ta-Al-C and Ti-Al-N systems are reviewed.

Improvement on the Oxidation Resistance of a Ti_3Al Based Alloy by Cr1-xAl_xN (0≤x≤0.47) Coatings

Cr1-xAlxN coatings have been deposited on a Ti3Al based alloy by reactive sputtering method. The results of the isothermal oxidation test at 800-900℃ showed that Cr1-xAlxN coatings could remarkably reduce the oxidation rate of the alloy owing to the formation of Al2O3＋Cr2O3 mixture oxide scale on the surface of the coatings. No spallation of the coatings or oxide scales took place during the cyclic oxidation at 800℃. Ti was observed to diffuse into the coatings, the diffusion distance of which was very short, and the diffusion ability of it was proportional to the AI content in the coatings. Compared to Ti, Nb can diffuse much more easily through the whole coatings and oxide scales.

Effects of Vacuum Ultraviolet Radiation on Atomic Oxygen Erosion of Polysiloxane/SiO_2 Hybrid Coatings

Polysiloxane/SiO2 hybrid coatings have been prepared on Kapton films by a sol-gel process. The erosion resistance of polysiloxane/Si02 （20 wt pct） coating was evaluated by exposure tests of vacuum ultraviolet radiation （VUV） and atomic oxygen beam （AO） in a ground-based simulation facility. The experimental results indicate that this coating exhibits better AO resistance than pure polysiloxane coating. The erosion yield （Ey） of the polysiloxane/Si02 （20 wt pct） hybrid coating is about 10-27 cm3/atom, being one or two orders of magnitude lower than that of polysiloxane. VUV radiation can affect the erosion process greatly. Under simultaneous AO and VUV exposure, the value of Ey of the polysiloxane/5iO2 （20 wt pct） hybrid coating increases by 3g% compared with that under single AO exposure.

Microstructure,elastic/mechanical and thermal properties of CrTaO_(4):A new thermal barrier material?

CrTaO_(4)(or Cr_(0.5)Ta_(0.5)O_(2))has been unexpectedly found to play a decisive role in improving the oxidation resistance of Cr and Ta-containing refractory high-entropy alloys(RHEAs).This rarely encountered complex oxide can effectively prevent the outward diffusion of metal cations from the RHEAs.Moreover,the oxidation kinetics of CrTaO_(4)-forming RHEAs is comparable to that of the well-known oxidation resistant Cr_(2)O_(3)-and Al_(2)O_(3)-forming Ni-based superalloys.However,CrTaO_(4)has been ignored and its mechanical and thermal properties have yet to be studied.To fill this research gap and explore the untapped potential for its applications,here we report for the first time the microstructure,mechanical and thermal properties of CrTaO_(4)prepared by hot-press sintering of solid-state reaction synthesized powders.Using the HAADF and ABF-STEM techniques,rutile crystal structure was confirmed and short range ordering was directly observed.In addition,segregation of Ta and Cr was identified.Intriguingly,CrTaO_(4)exhibits elastic/mechanical properties similar to those of yttria stabilized zirconia(YSZ)with Young’s modulus,shear modulus,and bulk modulus of 268,107,and 181 GPa,respectively,and Vickers hardness,flexural strength,and fracture toughness of 12.2±0.44 GPa,142±14 MPa,and 1.87±0.074 MPa·m^(1/2).The analogous elastic/mechanical properties of CrTaO_(4)to those of YSZ has spurred inquiries to lucrative leverage it as a new thermal barrier material.The measured melting point of CrTaO_(4)is 2103±20 K.The anisotropic thermal expansion coefficients areα_(a)=(5.68±0.10)×10^(-6)K^(-1),α_(c)=(7.81±0.11)×10^(-6)K^(-1),with an average thermal expansion coefficient of(6.39±0.11)×10^(-6)K^(-1).The room temperature thermal conductivity of CrTaO_(4)is 1.31 W·m^(-1)·K^(-1)and declines to 0.66 W·m^(-1)·K^(-1)at 1473 K,which are lower than most of the currently well-known thermal barrier materials.From the perspective of matched thermal expansion coefficient,CrTaO_(4)pertains to an eligible thermal barrier material for refractory metals such as Ta,Nb,and RHEAs,and ultrahigh temperature ceramics.As such,this work not only provides fundamental microstructure,elastic/mechanical and thermal properties that are instructive for understanding the protectiveness displayed by CrTaO_(4)on top of RHEAs but also outreaches its untapped potential as a new thermal barrier material.

High-entropy rare earth stannate ceramics:Acid corrosion resistant radiative cooling materials with high atmospheric transparency window emissivity and high near-infrared solar reflectivity

In response to the development of the concepts of“carbon neutrality”and“carbon peak”,it is critical to developing materials with high near-infrared(NIR)solar reflectivity and high emissivity in the atmospheric transparency window(ATW;8–13μm)to advance zero energy consumption radiative cooling technology.To regulate emission and reflection properties,a series of high-entropy rare earth stannate ceramics(HE-RE_(2)Sn_(2)O_(7):(Y_(0.2)La_(0.2)Nd_(0.2)Eu_(0.2)Gd_(0.2))_(2)Sn_(2)O_(7),(Y_(0.2)La_(0.2)Sm_(0.2)Eu_(0.2)Lu_(0.2))_(2)Sn_(2)O_(7),and(Y_(0.2)La_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Yb_(0.2)Lu_(0.2))_(2)Sn_(2)O_(7))with severe lattice distortion were prepared using a solid phase reaction followed by a pressureless sintering method for the first time.Lattice distortion is accomplished by introducing rare earth elements with different cation radii and mass.The as-synthesized HE-RE_(2)Sn_(2)O_(7)ceramics possess high ATW emissivity(91.38%–95.41%),high NIR solar reflectivity(92.74%–97.62%),low thermal conductivity(1.080–1.619 W·m^(−1)·K^(−1)),and excellent chemical stability.On the one hand,the lattice distortion intensifies the asymmetry of the structural unit to cause a notable alteration in the electric dipole moment,ultimately enlarging the ATW emissivity.On the other hand,by selecting difficult excitation elements,HE-RE_(2)Sn_(2)O_(7),which has a wide band gap(Eg),exhibits high NIR solar reflectivity.Hence,the multi-component design can effectively enhance radiative cooling ability of HE-RE_(2)Sn_(2)O_(7)and provide a novel strategy for developing radiative cooling materials.

Improved damage tolerance and oxidation resistance of (Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2))B_(2)–SiC by introducing chopped carbon fibers

High-entropy diborides(HEBs)are considered as promising high-temperature structure materials owing to their high melting point and excellent thermal stability.However,the intrinsic brittleness is the main obstacle that seriously limits their practical applications.To overcome with this obstacle,carbon fibers(Cf)with outstanding mechanical properties are used in the present work as a first attempt to improve the damage tolerance of HEBs.The as-prepared C_(f)/(Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2))B_(2)–SiC composite(C_(f)/HEB–SiC)shows high relative density(97.9%)and good mechanical properties with flexural strength of 411±3 MPa and fracture toughness of 6.15±0.11 MPa·m^(1/2).More importantly,the damage tolerance parameter(Dt)has increased from 0.10 m^(1/2) for HEB–SiC to 0.29 m^(1/2) for C_(f)/HEB–SiC.Through microstructural analysis and Vickers indentation of the composite,the toughening mechanisms are disclosed.The carbon fibers coated with carbon coatings demonstrate unique capacity for prolonging the crack propagation path,which promotes the reliability of the composite effectively.Moreover,the C_(f)/(Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2))B_(2)–SiC composite also exhibits good static oxidation resistance in the temperature range of 1100–1500℃in air due to the formation of the protective oxide layer constituting of multicomponent oxides(Zr)HfTiO4 and(Zr)Hf_(6)Ta_(2)O_(17) embedded in a continuous SiO_(2) glass.These results are promising,and this primary work can be used as a reference to the synthesis of C_(f)/HEBs for thermal protection materials under hightemperature serving conditions.

High-entropy(Sm_(0.2)Eu_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Dy_(0.2)Er_(0.2))_(2)Hf_(2)O_(7) ceramic with superb resistance to radiation-induced amorphization

Nuclear engineering materials are required to possess outstanding extreme environmental tolerance and irradiation resistance.A promising novel pyrochlore-type of(Sm_(0.2)Eu_(0.2)Gd_(0.2)Dy_(0.2)Er_(0.2))2 Hf_(2)O_(7)high-entropy ceramic(HE-RE2 Hf_(2)O_(7))for control rod was prepared by solid-state reaction method.The ion irradiation of HE-RE_(2) Hf_(2)O_(7)with 400 keV Kr+at 400℃was investigated using a 400 kV ion implanter and compared with single-component pyrochlore Gd2 Hf_(2)O_(7)to evaluate the irradiation resistance.For HE-RE2 Hf_(2)O_(7),the phase transition from pyrochlore to defective fluorite is revealed after irradiation at 60 dpa.After irradiation at 120 dpa,it maintained crystalline,which is comparable to Gd2 Hf_(2)O_(7)but superior to the titanate pyrochlores previously studied.Moreover,the lattice expansion of HE-RE2 Hf_(2)O_(7)(_(0.2)2%)is much lower than that of Gd2 Hf_(2)O_(7)(0.62%),indicating excellent irradiation damage resistance.Nanoindentation tests displayed an irradiation-induced increase in hardness and a decrease in elastic modulus by about 2.6%.Irradiation-induced segregation of elements is observed on the surface of irradiated samples.In addition,HE-RE2 Hf_(2)O_(7)demonstrates a more sluggish grain growth rate than Gd2 Hf_(2)O_(7)at 1200℃,suggesting better high-temperature stability.The linear thermal expansion coefficient of HE-RE2 Hf_(2)O_(7)is 10.7×10-6 K-1 at 298–1273 K.In general,it provides a new strategy for the design of the next advanced nuclear engineering materials.

Fabrication of multi-anionic high-entropy carbonitride ultra-high-temperature ceramics by a green and low-cost process with excellent mechanical properties

As a new category of ultra-high-temperature ceramics(UHTCs),multi-anionic high-entropy(HE)carbonitride UHTCs are expected to have better comprehensive performance than conventional UHTCs.However,how to realize the green and low-cost synthesis of high-quality multi-anionic HE carbonitride UHTC powders and prepare bulk ceramics with excellent mechanical properties still faces great challenges.In this work,a green,low-cost,and controllable preparation process of(Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2))C,N_(1-x) powders is achieved by sol-gel combined with the carbothermal reduction/nitridation method for the first time.The as-synthesized(Ti_(0.2)Zr_(0.2)Hf_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2))C_(x)N_(1-x) powders possess high compositional uniformity and controllable particle size.In addition,the obtained bulk ceramics prepared at 1800℃exhibit superior fracture toughness(Kic)of 5.39±0.16 MPa·m^(1/2) and high nanohardnesof 35.75±1.23 GPa,lastic modulus(E)of 566.70±8.68 GPa,and flexural strength of 487±41 MPa.This study provides a feasible strategy for preparing the high-performance HE carbonitride ceramics in a more environmentally friendly and economical manner.

Medium and high-entropy transition mental disilicides with improved infrared emissivity for thermal protection applications

Transition metal disilicides are widely used as heating elements and infrared emission coatings.However,the limited intrinsic infrared emissivity and high thermal conductivity are the main limitations to their applications as infrared emission coatings in the thermal protection system.To cope with these prob-lems,four medium and high-entropy transition metal disilicides,i.e.,(V_(0.25)Ta_(0.25)Mo_(0.25)W_(0.25))Si_(2)(ME-1),(Nb_(0.25)Ta_(0.25)Mo_(0.25)W_(0.25))Si_(2)(ME-2),(V_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2)Mo_(0.2)W_(0.2))Si_(2)(HE-1),and(Cr_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2)Mo_(0.2)W_(0.2))Si_(2)(HE-2),were designed and synthesized by spark plasma sintering method using transition metal binary disilicides as precursors.The introduction of multi-elements into transition metal disilicides not only im-proved the infrared emissivity but also reduced the electrical and thermal conductivity.Among them,(Cr_(0.2)Nb_(0.2)Ta_(0.2)Mo_(0.2)W_(0.2))Si_(2)(HE-2)had the lowest electrical conductivity of 3789 S cm-1,which is over one order of magnitude lower than that of MoSi_(2)(50000 S cm^(-1)),and total infrared emissivity of 0.42 at room temperature,which is nearly double of that of TaSi_(2).Benefiting from low electrical conductivity and phonon scattering due to lattice distortion,the medium and high-entropy transition metal disilicides also demonstrated a significant decline in thermal conductivity compared to their binary counterparts.Of all samples,HE-2 exhibited the lowest thermal conductivity of 6.4 W m^(−1)K^(−1).The high-entropy tran-sition metal disilicides also present excellent oxidation resistance at high temperatures.The improved infrared emissivity,reduced thermal conductivity,excellent oxidation resistance,and lower densities of these medium and high-entropy transition metal disilicides portend that they are promising as infrared emission coating materials for applications in thermal protection systems.

Stabilizing MXene suspension with polyhydric alcohols

MXenes have promises in myriad applications by virtue of two-dimensional nature and adjustable functional groups.To achieve the applications,MXenes are always first prepared in the form of aqueous suspension.However,fast degradation caused by the attack of dissolved oxygen and water molecules is the main obstacle to the application of MXenes.It has come to light that the degradation preferentially takes place at defective sites and edges where defects enrich.To tackle this problem and increase the stability,herein,using Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene as a model material,we report a simple yet efficient strategy for long term storage of MXene suspension by introducing glycerol,a typical polyhydric alcohol.The effectiveness of the strategy is evidenced by structural compositional and morphological investigations.Glycerol protects the defective sites of MXene flakes through restricting water and/or oxygen molecules from reactive sites.This is supported by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations that form hydrogen bonds between MXene and glycerol molecules just over defective sites.Following this mechanism,other polyhydric alcohols,such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol,are also effective in stabilizing Ti_(3)C_(2)T_(x)MXene suspension.The strategy based on polyhydric alcohols has the potential to be extended to other MXenes,solving the most urgent challenge in the field of MXene engineering.

Electron-irradiation-facilitated production of chemically homogenized nanotwins in nanolaminated carbides

Twin boundaries have been exploited to stabilize ultrafine grains and improve mechanical properties of nanomaterials.The production of the twin boundaries and nanotwins is however prohibitively challenging in carbide ceramics.Using a scanning transmission electron microscope as a unique platform for atomic-scale structure engineering,we demonstrate that twin platelets could be produced in carbides by engineering antisite defects.The antisite defects at metal sites in various layered ternary carbides are collectively and controllably generated,and the metal elements are homogenized by electron irradiation,which transforms a twin-like lamellae into nanotwin platelets.Accompanying chemical homogenization,α-Ti_(3)AlC_(2) transforms to unconventionalβ-Ti_(3)AiC_(2).The chemical homogeneity and the width of the twin platelets can be tuned by dose and energy of bombarding electrons.Chemically homogenized nanotwins can boost hardness by~45%.Our results provide a new way to produce ultrathin(<5 nm)nanotwin platelets in scientifically and technologically important carbide materials and showcase feasibility of defect engineering by an angstrom-sized electron probe.

Synthesis and mechanical and elevated temperature tribological properties of a novel high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375) with carbon stoichiometry deviation

High-entropy carbides are a nascent group of ceramics that are promising for high-temperature applications due to the combination of good stability,high hardness(H),high strength,and superior creep resistance that they display.Due to high melting points and low lattice diffusion coefficients,however,the high-entropy carbides are usually difficult to consolidate to a nearly full density.To cope with this challenge,herein,binary carbides including TiC,V_(8)C_(7),NbC,Mo_(2)C,and WC with different carbon stoichiometry were used to prepare dense high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375),and the influence of carbon vacancy on formation ability and mechanical properties of carbon-deficient high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375) were investigated.Intriguingly,although the starting binary carbides have different crystal structures and carbon stoichiometry,the as-prepared high-entropy material showed a rock-salt structure with a relatively high density(98.1%)and good mechanical properties with hardness of 19.4±0.4 GPa and fracture toughness(KIC)of 4.02 MPa·m^(1/2).More importantly,the high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375) exhibited low coefficient of friction(COF)at room temperature(RT)and 800℃.Wear rate(W)gradually increased with the temperature rising,which were attributed to the formation of low-hardness oxidation films at high temperatures to aggravate wear.At 800℃,lubricating films formed from sufficient oxidation products of V_(2)O_(5) and MoO_(3) effectively improved tribological behavior of the high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375).Wear mechanisms were mainly abrasive wear resulting from grain pullout and brittle fracture as well as oxidation wear generated from high-temperature reactions.These results are useful as valuable guidance and reference to the synthesis of high-entropy ceramics(HECs)for sliding parts under high-temperature serving conditions.

Advances on strategies for searching for next generation thermal barrier coating materials

Thermal barrier coating(TBC) materials play important roles in gas turbine engines to protect the Nibased super-alloys from the high temperature airflow damage. High melting point, ultra-low thermal conductivity, large thermal expansion coefficient, excellent damage tolerance and moderate mechanical properties are the main requirements of promising TBC materials. In order to improve the efficiency of jet and/or gas turbine engines, which is the key of improved thrust-to-weight ratios and the energysaving, significant efforts have been made on searching for enhanced TBC materials. Theoretically, density functional theory has been successfully used in scanning the structure and properties of materials, and at the same time predicting the mechanical and thermal properties of promising TBC materials for high and ultrahigh temperature applications, which are validated by subsequent experiments. Experimentally,doping and/or alloying are also widely applied to further decrease their thermal conductivities. Now, the strategy through combining theoretical calculations and experiments on searching for next generation thermal insulator materials is widely adopted. In this review, the common used techniques and the recent advantages on searching for promising TBC materials in both theory and experiments are summarized.

High-entropy ceramics:Present status,challenges,and a look forward

High-entropy ceramics (HECs) are solid solutions of inorganic compounds with one or more Wyckoff sites shared by equal or near-equal atomic ratios of multi-principal elements.Although in the infant stage,the emerging of this new family of materials has brought new opportunities for material design and property tailoring.Distinct from metals,the diversity in crystal structure and electronic structure of ceramics provides huge space for properties tuning through band structure engineering and phonon engineering.Aside from strengthening,hardening,and low thermal conductivity that have already been found in high-entropy alloys,new properties like colossal dielectric constant,super ionic conductivity,severe anisotropic thermal expansion coefficient,strong electromagnetic wave absorption,etc.,have been discovered in HECs.As a response to the rapid development in this nascent field,this article gives a comprehensive review on the structure features,theoretical methods for stability and property prediction,processing routes,novel properties,and prospective applications of HECs.The challenges on processing,characterization,and property predictions are also emphasized.Finally,future directions for new material exploration,novel processing,fundamental understanding,in-depth characterization,and database assessments are given.

High porosity and low thermal conductivity high entropy(Zr0.2Hf0.2Ti0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2C

Porous ultra-high temperature ceramics(UHTCs)are promising for ultrahigh-temperature thermal insulation applications.However,the main limitations for their applications are the high thermal conductivity and densification of porous structure at high temperatures.In order to overcome these obstacles,herein,porous high entropy(Zr(0.2)Hf(0.2)Ti(0.2)Nb(0.2)Ta(0.2))C was prepared by a simple method combing in-situ reaction and partial sintering.Porous high entropy(Zr(0.2)Hf(0.2)Ti(0.2)Nb(0.2)Ta(0.2))C possesses homogeneous microstructure with grain size in the range of 100–500 nm and pore size in the range of 0.2–1μm,which exhibits high porosity of 80.99%,high compressive strength of 3.45 MPa,low room temperature thermal conductivity of 0.39 W·m^-1K^-1,low thermal diffusivity of 0.74 mm^2·s^-1and good high temperature stability.The combination of these properties renders porous high entropy(Zr(0.2)Hf(0.2)Ti(0.2)Nb(0.2)Ta(0.2))Cpromising as light-weight ultrahigh temperature thermal insulation materials.

High entropy(Yb0.25Y0.25Lu0.25Er0.25)2SiO5 with strong anisotropy in thermal expansion

A novel high entropy(HE) rare earth monosilicate(Yb0.25Y0.25Lu0.25Er0.252 SiO5 was synthesized by solid-state reaction method.X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicate that a single solid solution is formed with homogeneous distribution of rare-earth elements.HE(Yb0.25Y0.25Lu0.255 Er0.252 SiO5 exhibits excellent phase stability and anisotropy in thermal expansion.The coefficients of thermal expansion(CTEs) in three crystallographic directions are:αa=(2.57±0.07)×10^-6 K^-1,αb=(8.07±0.13)×10^-6 K^-1,αc=(9.98±0.10)×10^-6 K^-1.The strong anisotropy in thermal expansion is favorable in minimizing the coating/substrate mismatch if preferred orientation of HE(Yb0.25Y0.25Lu0.25Er0.252 SiO5 is controlled on either metal or ceramic substrate.

(Y0.25Yb0.25Er0.25Lu0.25)2(Zr0.5Hf0.5)2O7: A defective fluorite structured high entropy ceramic with low thermal conductivity and close thermal expansion coefficient to Al2O3

Al2O3f/Al2O3 ceramic matrix composites(CMC)are promising candidate materials of blades and combustor liners of future gas turbines in light of their higher temperature capability,higher environmental stability and oxidizing-free capacity[1–3].Nevertheless,grain growth,sintering and creep deformation at high operation temperatures are still serious problems for Al2O3f/Al2O3 ceramic matrix composites,which can lead to a reduction in the strength and damage tolerance[2].Moreover,Al2O3 can be corroded by the high temperature water vapor in combustion environments and yields volatile products,such as Al(OH)3[4].Consequently,environmental barrier coatings(EBCs)are necessary for Al2O3f/Al2O3 ceramic matrix composites,which can protect Al2O3f/Al2O3 CMC from high temperature and flowing combustion gas corrosion and thus increase the high temperature capability and the service life of components.

(La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2)PO4: A high-entropy rare-earth phosphate monazite ceramic with low thermal conductivity and good compatibility with Al2O3

Low thermal conductivity, matched thermal expansion coefficient and good compatibility are general requirements for the environmental/thermal barrier coatings(EBCs/TBCs) and interphases for Al2O3 f/Al2O3 composites. In this work, a novel high-entropy(HE) rare-earth phosphate monazite ceramic (La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2)PO4 is designed and successfully synthesized. This new type of HE rare-earth phosphate monazite exhibits good chemical compatibility with Al2O3, without reaction with Al2O3 as high as 1600℃ in air. Moreover, the thermal expansion coefficient(TEC) of HE (La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2)PO4(8.9 × 10^-6/℃ at 300–1000℃) is close to that of Al2O3. The thermal conductivity of HE (La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2)PO4 at room temperature is as low as 2.08 W·m^-1·K^-1, which is about 42% lower than that of La PO4. Good chemical compatibility, close TEC to that of Al2O3, and low thermal conductivity indicate that HE (La0.2Ce0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2)PO4 is suitable as a candidate EBC/TBC material and an interphase for Al2O3 f/Al2O3 composites.

Porous high entropy(Zr0.2Hf0.2Ti0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)B2: A novel strategy towards making ultrahigh temperature ceramics thermal insulating

Transition metal diborides based ultrahigh temperature ceramics(UHTCs) are characterized by high melting point, high strength and hardness, and high electrical and thermal conductivity. The high thermal conductivity arises from both electronic and phonon contributions. Thus electronic and phonon contributions must be controlled simultaneously in reducing the thermal conductivity of transition metal diborides. In high entropy(HE) materials, both electrons and phonons are scattered such that the thermal conductivity can significantly be reduced, which opens a new window to design novel insulating materials. Inspired by the high entropy effect, porous HE(Zr0.2Hf0.2Ti0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)B2 is designed in this work as a new thermal insulting ultrahigh temperature material and is synthesized by an in-situ thermal borocarbon reduction/partial sintering process. The porous HE(Zr0.2Hf0.2Ti0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)B2 possesses high porosity of 75.67%, pore size of 0.3–1.2 μm, homogeneous microstructure with small grain size of 400–800 nm, which results in low room temperature thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of 0.74 mm2 s^-1 and 0.51 W m^-1K^-1, respectively. In addition, it exhibits high compressive strength of3.93 MPa. The combination of these properties indicates that exploring porous high entropy ceramics such as porous HE(Zr0.2Hf0.2Ti0.2Nb0.2Ta0.2)B2 is a novel strategy in making UHTCs thermal insulating.