Properties Of Ultra-high Temperature Ceramics Research Articles

Thermal properties of MB2-WC (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) and tungsten and their stability after deuterium plasma exposure

The thermal properties of ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) in the MB2-WC (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) system and tungsten were studied for potential application as plasma-facing materials in fusion power plants. The sintered UHTC and tungsten samples were subjected to deuterium plasma or protons irradiation. Thermal diffusivity was measured using the laser flash method, and superficial thermal conductivity was analyzed through atomic force microscopy. Results showed that the thermal properties did not degrade when exposed to relevant environments and remained stable over a range of temperatures, unlike the reference tungsten material. Thermal conductivity ranged from 61 to 68 W m−1 K−1 for TiB2-2(WC-6Co), from 53 to 63 W m−1 K−1 for ZrB2-6WC, from 67 to 75 W m−1 K−1 for HfB2-6WC, and from 180 to 119 W m−1 K−1 for tungsten across the temperature range from room temperature to 1200 °C. The increasing trend of thermal effusivity, over 19000 J s−0.5 m−2 K−1 at 1200 °C, justifies further testing and of UHTC materials for fusion applications.

In-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction and thermal expansion of TiB2 up to ∼3050 °C

There is an increasing interest in understanding the performance and properties of ultra-high temperature ceramics due to their high melting points (<3000 °C) that make them promising for extreme environment applications. In-situ high temperature X-ray diffraction experiments were performed on TiB2 beads up to ∼3050 °C. For these experiments, TiB2 powders were fabricated into spherical beads via gel casting methods and densified in a high temperature graphite furnace. These sample beads were then levitated in a conical nozzle levitator with reducing atmosphere (3% H2 -Ar) while being heated using a 400 W CO2 laser. During levitation a collimated synchrotron X-ray source was used to perform in-situ, temperature-dependent structural characterizations. The anisotropic coefficients of thermal expansion of TiB2 were characterized as a function of temperature up to ∼3050 °C. Elucidation of these properties are critical for the advancement of TiB2 ceramics and other transition metal di-borides for use in high temperature applications such as hypersonic platforms, nuclear reactors, and atmospheric re-entry.

Predicting mechanical properties of ultrahigh temperature ceramics using machine learning

AbstractUltrahigh temperature ceramics (UHTCs) have melting points above 3000°C and outstanding strength at high temperatures, thus making them apposite structural materials for high‐temperature applications. Di‐borides, nitride, and carbide compounds—processed via various techniques—have been extensively studied and used in the manufacture of UHTCs. Current analytical models, based on our current but incomplete understanding of the theory, are unable to produce a priori predictions of mechanical properties of UHTCs based on their mixture designs and processing parameters. As a result, researchers have to rely on experiments—which are often costly and time‐consuming—to understand composition–structure–performance links in UHTCs. This study employs machine learning (ML) models (i.e., random forest and artificial neural network models) to predict Young's modulus, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of UHTCs in relation to a wide range of mixture designs, processing parameters, and testing conditions. Outcomes demonstrate that adequately trained ML models can yield reliable predictions, a priori, of the three aforesaid mechanical properties. The prediction performance on Young's modulus is superior to flexural strength and fracture toughness. Next, the ML model with the best prediction performance is utilized to evaluate and rank the impacts of input variables on Young's modulus. Finally, on the basis of such classification of consequential and inconsequential input variables, this study develops an easy‐to‐use, closed‐form analytical model to predict Young's modulus of UHTCs. Overall, this study highlights the ability of data‐driven numerical models to complement, or even replace, time‐consuming experiments, thereby accelerating the development of UHTCs.

The Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Laminated ZrB2-Mo5SiB2 Ceramics with an Mo-Mo5SiB2 Interlayer

The excellent physical and chemical properties of ultra-high temperature ceramics make them suitable for many high-temperature structural components, while their poor toughness and high sintering temperature become key limitations to their application. Laminated toughening has long been considered an effective toughening method to improve the mechanical properties of ceramics. In this study, laminated ZrB2-Mo5SiB2 ceramics with an Mo-Mo5SiB2 interlayer were fabricated by tape casting and hot press sintering at 1900 °C for 2 h. Different layer thickness ratios between the matrix layer and the interlayer were designed to illustrate the toughening mechanism. Both the fracture toughness and flexural strength of the laminated ceramics showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of the layer thickness ratio. High fracture toughness (9.89 ± 0.26 MPa·m1/2) and flexural strength (431.6 ± 15.1 MPa) were obtained when the layer thickness ratio was 13. The improvement in fracture toughness of the laminated ceramics could be attributed to the generation of the residual stress, the deflection and the bifurcation of the cracks. Residual stress that developed in the laminated ceramics was also evaluated.

Investigating the mechanical behavior of multiscale porous ultra-high temperature ceramics using a quasi-static material point method

Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are a class of materials that maintain their structural integrity at high temperatures, e.g. 2000 °C. They have been limited in their aerospace applications because of their relatively high density and the difficulty involved in forming them into complex shapes, like leading edges and inlets. Recent advanced processing techniques have made significant headway in addressing these challenges, where the introduction of multiscale porosity has resulted in lightweight UHTCs and a more tailored thermal conductivity response. The effect of porosity on the properties of UHTCs must be characterized to enable design, but doing so experimentally can be costly, especially when attempting to mimic hypersonic flight conditions. As such, this paper seeks to computationally characterize and understand the effective mechanical properties of porous UHTCs, specifically titanium diboride, and validate those results against experimental results so as to build confidence in the model. An implicit quasi-static variant of the Material Point Method (MPM) is developed, whose capabilities include intrinsic treatment of large deformations and contact which are needed to capture the post-elastic behavior of simulated porous UHTC microstructures. It is found that the MPM can approximately obtain the elastic properties of porous UHTCs without calibration, and that the post-elastic results are found to be qualitatively consistent with experimental results. With calibrated input properties, significantly improved agreement is obtained.

Predicting the mechanical properties of ultra-high temperature ceramics

Predicting the mechanical properties of ultra-high temperature ceramics

Temperature-dependence of structural and mechanical properties of TiB2: A first principle investigation

High temperature mechanical and thermodynamic properties of TiB2 are important to its applications as ultrahigh temperature ceramic, which were not well understood. In this study, the thermodynamic and mechanical properties of TiB2 were investigated by the combination of first principle and phonon dispersion calculations. The thermal expansion of TiB2 was anisotropic, αc/αa is nearly constant (1.46) from 300 K to 1500 K, theoretically. The origination of this anisotropy is the anisotropic compressibility. The heat capacity at constant pressure was estimated from the theoretical entropy and fitted the experimental result quite well when higher-order anharmonic effects were considered. Theoretical isentropic elastic constants and mechanical properties were calculated and their temperature dependence agreed with the existed experiments. From room temperature to 1500 K, the theoretical slope is −0.0211 GPa·K−1, −0.0155 GPa·K−1, and −0.0384 GPa·K−1 for B, G, and E, respectively. Our theoretical results highlight the suitability of this method in predicting temperature dependent properties of ultrahigh temperature ceramics and show ability in selecting and designing of novel ultrahigh temperature ceramics.

Advances in Transient-Liquid-Phase Bonding of Ultra-high Temperature ZrC Ceramics

AbstractFull exploitation of the many attractive engineering properties of ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) requires that they can be joined. This paper explores progress in identifying joining strategies based on the use of transient liquid phases (TLPs). Wetting studies are used to explore the suitability of specific liquids for joining, while bonding studies provide the ultimate test. Sintering aids in the UHTC provide a major potential obstacle to successful joining, and dissolved impurities in the TLP can also complicate the joining process. Nonetheless, we show that well-bonding interfaces can be achieved when ZrC ceramics are bonded at 1673 K using a Ni/Nb/Ni multilayer interlayer.

Preparation and Properties of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics Based on ZrC and HfC

Successful preparation of massive compact bodies from ultra-high temperature ceramics like zirconium carbide, hafnium carbide and their cermets with tungsten matrix with high values of mechanical parameters is difficult. Only limited number of techniques is able to perform it because of their absolutely highest melting points. In our contribution the preparation of these materials by both - hot pressing and plasma spraying techniques is described and chemical processes taking part at the fabrication are studied. Hot-pressed products fabricated at 2000°C and 6 GPa partly react with the internal surface of the BELT-type apparatus. Melting and solidification is taking place at plasma spraying. This process, carried out by water stabilized plasma torch with centerline temperature up to 30 000°C, is joined with undesirable reactions with plasma-forming medium, with oxidation in a turbulent plasma flow and nitridation of free-flight particles. All these chemical processes depend on variety of parameters, such as particle size of the feedstock powders or electric power of the arc. The mentioned parameters are easily controlled. Other, less controllable, factors include trajectory of powder particles in the plasma jet, important for the melting degree as well as for oxidation or nitridation of the powder surface. New knowledge concerning properties of compact ZrC and HfC were obtained.

FAILURE ASSESSMENT OF UHTC PLATE UNDER ELEVATED TEMPERATURE

In the present study, a theoretical model is presented to assess the failure temperature for ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs). Unlike traditional thermal shock theory, the parameters, such as thermal expansion coefficient and Young's modulus, are considered a function of temperature in the present model. The oxide film of UHTCs is also believed to grow under high temperature. Considering two kinds of conditions, the critical elevated temperature for delamination is calculated using Griffith's theory. By establishing the relation between temperature and the mechanical properties of UHTCs, it is found that the failure behavior of UHTCs is strongly affected by the oxide film thickness, initial temperature and the heating rate.

Pressureless Sintering of Ultra-High Temperature ZrB&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-SiC Ceramics

ZrB2-SiC ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) were pressureless sintered with Y2O3-Al2O3 as the sintering additives. The effects of sintering additive and crystallization annealing on the microstructure and properties of ZrB2-SiC UHTCs were investigated. Sintering was activated by producing liquid phase of Y2O3 and Al2O3. The relative density of sintered ZrB2-20wt%SiC ceramic could reach 96% when the content of sintering additive was 6% and the sintering temperature was 1750°C and its bending strength, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness were 412 MPa, 13 GPa, and 6.0 MPa•m1/2, respectively. The crystallization annealing can result in YAG phase from grain boundary and enhance the high temperature properties of the UHTCs. The UHTCs have excellent ablation resistance at ultra-high temperatures, and a very low ablation rate of 0.0006 mm/s after ablation for 900s at 2800°C.

Processing and properties of ultra-high temperature ceramics for space applications

The processing and the properties of two ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) designed for the manufacturing of aerospace sharp-shaped hot-structures are presented, along with the results obtained in the electrical discharge machining (EDM) of these UHTCs into sharp hot-structure components. The powder mixtures in the (ZrB 2–SiC)-based systems were brought to full density by hot-pressing. The hot-pressed bodies were characterized by fine and uniform microstructures (typical grain size < 5 μm), along with controlled thermo-mechanical properties. Average flexure strength and fracture toughness at room temperature (RT) up to about 900 MPa and 4.1 MPa√m, respectively, were measured. Elastic moduli at RT approaching 500 GPa were also measured. At 1500 °C in air, flexure strength decreased to 250 MPa. Beyond basic mechanical properties, the machinability of UHTC blocks into a more complex shape by means of the EDM was also assessed. Sharp-shaped hot-structures in the form of a nose-cone were produced from 12 cm × 10 cm hot-pressed cylindrical blocks. The machined surfaces showed limited roughness Ra < 1 μm. With the exception of the typical size of critical flaws induced by EDM seeming slightly larger than those of specimens machined with conventional diamond-loaded tools, the EDM technique proved to be as effective in machining UHTC sintered pieces into more complex components.