Effect of Cr, Al and Mo additives on the wetting characteristics of molten Ni on (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)C high entropy ceramics

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2025-01, Vol.1010, p.177057, Article 177057
• Main Authors: Vedel, D., Storozhenko, M., Mazur, P., Konoval, V., Skoryk, M., Grigoriev, O., Heaton, M., Zavdoveev, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbide; Eutectics; High-entropy ceramics; Wetting
• ISSN: 0925-8388
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2024.177057

For the first time, the wetting behavior of the (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)C) high entropy carbide ceramics by molten Ni-based alloys was investigated using a sessile drop technique in a vacuum environment. Adding 10 wt% of Cr, Mo, or Al into Ni resulted in final contact angles of 14°, 10°, and 14° on the (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)C substrate, respectively. The interaction mechanism between (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)C and Ni-based alloys occurs in two stages: the dissolution and interaction of the elements Ti, Zr, Hf with the alloys and the dissolution of NbC and TaC at the grain boundaries. SEM observations revealed that Cr and Al additives do not interact with carbides, while Mo was dissolved in carbides. Due to the low contact angle, minimal interaction region between alloy and ceramic, and short time of drop spreading, NiAl alloy is proven to be a promising binder for the HEC-based composites. •Adding Cr, Mo, and Al to Ni improved the wetting in (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)C-Ni alloys system.•The final contact angle between (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)C and Ni-Cr/Ni-Mo/Ni-Al was 14°, 10°, and 14°, respectively.•Cr and Al additives did not interact with carbides, while Mo was dissolved in carbides and Ni alloys.•The precipitation of TaC was the primary mechanism of decomposition of (Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)C during wetting.