Funct. Mater. 2024; 31 (3): 371-376.

doi:https://doi.org/10.15407/fm31.03.371

Densification, microstructure and hardness of middle entropy ceramics based on transition metals diboride

D. Vedel1, P. Mazur1, O. Grigoriev1, I. Kozak1, L. Melakh1, M. Naumenko2, M. Karpets2, M. Skoryk3, A. Zavdoveev4

1 Frantsevich Institute for Problems in Materials Science, 3 Krzhizhanovsky St., 03142, Kyiv, Ukraine
2 National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", Peremogy Ave. 37, 03056 Kyiv, Ukraine
3Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine, 03150 Kyiv, Ukraine
4G. V. Kurdyumov Institute of Metal Physics of the NAS of Ukraine, NanoMedTech LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine

Abstract: 

This article discusses the production and characterization of solid solutions based on single diboride phases, specifically TiB2, ZrB2, HfB2, NbB2, and TaB2. These high-entropy ceramics TiB2 denoted as (Ti, Zr, Hf)B2, (Ti, Zr, Nb)B2, and (Ti, Zr, Ta)B2, were prepared through a meticulous process involving wet ball milling, hot pressing, and subsequent analysis. Microstructural analysis was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The as-sintered ceramics had a complex microstructure, including solid solution − gray phase, (Hf, Zr)B2− white phase, and a dark phase formed during the polishing procedure. Chemical analysis using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) indicated the formation of the (Ti0.33Zr0.33Hf0.34)B2 solid solution in (Ti, Zr, Hf)B2 ceramics. However, in the case of (Ti, Zr, Nb)B2 and (Ti, Zr, Ta)B2, inhomogeneous areas rich in Nb and Ta were observed, indicating the difficulty in achieving complete solubility in the AlB2 structure. Hardness was measured at different indentation loads, and a decrease in hardness was revealed at higher loads. However, the high hardness observed at lower loads (200 H) for (Ti, Zr, Hf)B2 solid solutions suggested a cocktail effect, similar to that observed in high-entropy metal alloys.

Keywords: 
Ddiborides, middle entropy ceramics, microstructure

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