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High-entropy ceramic coatings withstand 1,100 °C in aerospace applications
A research team at Tomsk Polytechnic University has developed new high-entropy ceramic coatings that significantly improve oxidation resistance at ultra-high temperatures – a key requirement for aerospace applications.
Scientists at Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have made a breakthrough in developing high-entropy ceramic coatings capable of resisting oxidation in extremely aggressive environments. Their approach, based on hafnium and zirconium carbides alloyed with aluminium, chromium and tantalum, achieved excellent resistance to oxidative degradation at 1,100 °C – a critical improvement for potential use in aviation and space applications.
Ceramic materials based on zirconium and hafnium carbides are known for their exceptional mechanical and thermal stability. However, their susceptibility to rapid oxidation above 500 °C has long limited their use. The TPU team’s solution focuses on entropic stabilisation: a concept where multiple metal components create a stable, single-phase structure with synergistic properties – often referred to as the ‘cocktail effect’.
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Multilayer coating approach boosts performance
The coatings, produced via magnetron sputtering, are intended as intermediate layers between conventional thermal barrier systems (e.g. yttria-stabilised zirconia) and heat-resistant substrates made from nickel- or chromium-based alloys. According to the researchers, the high-entropy design significantly improves ablation resistance, thermal conductivity and phase stability across a wide temperature range.
Initial tests showed that these coatings provide oxidation resistance up to 20 times higher than non-alloyed carbides and up to 7 times higher than those alloyed with aluminium or chromium alone. The next step involves evaluating double oxide–carbide high-entropy systems, with a focus on structural integrity, thermal stability and long-term performance under extreme conditions.
Source: National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University
