Scientists obtain high-entropy carbide in electric arc plasma

Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University have synthetized high-entropy carbide consisting of five various metals using a vacuum-free electric arc method. The research findings are published in the Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics.

High-entropy carbides are a new class of materials simultaneously consisting of four or more various metals and carbon. Their main feature lies in the capability to endure high temperatures and energy flux densities. Combining various elements in the composition, it is possible to obtain the required mix of features (melting point, oxidation temperature, specific weight and others).

"High-entropy materials are called in such a way due to a relatively high degree of disorder in the crystalline lattice, as an atom of every chemical element possesses a certain size in the crystalline lattices.

It causes structural distortions and can positively affect material properties," Alexander Pak, Research Fellow of the TPU Research Center—Ecoenergy 4.0, explains.

The TPU scientists managed to synthetize high-entropy carbide consisting of Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta and C. Carbide was obtained using a vacuum-free electric arc synthesis. High temperatures are required for a reaction, in order, every primary component interacting with C connects to the face-centered cubic lattice and forms ultra-refractory carbide. The scientists use electric arc plasma to obtain it.

"We became the first to obtain high-entropy carbide using a vacuum-free electric arc method. It is a great rarity and success for us to synthetize a material that has recently been discovered and to use our method at electric arc reactors created by our research team.

We are planning to improve a synthesis process to obtain a clearer and uncontaminated material, to reduce energy intensity, as well as to research material properties and synthetize high-entropy carbides of the other chemical composition," Alexander Pak adds.