Advances in ultra-high temperature ceramics, composites, and coatings

Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are generally referred to the carbides, nitrides, and borides of the transition metals, with the Group IVB compounds (Zr & Hf) and TaC as the main focus. The UHTCs are endowed with ultra-high melting points, excellent mechanical properties, and ablation resistance at elevated temperatures. These unique combinations of properties make them promising materials for extremely environmental structural applications in rocket and hypersonic vehicles, particularly nozzles, leading edges, and engine components, etc. In addition to bulk UHTCs, UHTC coatings and fiber reinforced UHTC composites are extensively developed and applied to avoid the intrinsic brittleness and poor thermal shock resistance of bulk ceramics. Recently, highentropy UHTCs are developed rapidly and attract a lot of attention as an emerging direction for ultra-high temperature materials. This review presents the state of the art of processing approaches, microstructure design and properties of UHTCs from bulk materials to composites and coatings, as well as the future directions.

Synthesis and Sintering of Nanostructured ZrB2-Al2O3 Composite

ZrB2 is considered a candidate material for ultra-high temperature ceramics because of its high thermal conductivity, high melting point, and low coefficient of thermal expansion. Despite these attractive properties, ZrB2 applications are limited by its low fracture toughness below the brittle-ductile transition temperature. To improve its ductile properties, the approach universally utilized has been to add a second material to form composites, and to fabricate nanostructured materials. In this study a dense nanostructured ZrB2-Al2O3 composite was rapidly sintered using the pulsed current activated heating (PCAH) method within 3 min in one step, from mechanically synthesized powders of ZrB2 and Al2O3. Consolidation was accomplished using an effective combination of current and mechanical pressure. A highly dense ZrB2- Al2O3 composite with a relative density of up to 97.4% was fabricated using the simultaneous application of 70 MPa pressure and a pulsed current. The fracture toughness and hardness of the ZrB2-Al2O3 composite were 3.9 MPa.m1/2 and 1917 kg/mm2, respectively. The fracture toughness of the composite was higher than that of monolithic ZrB2.

Synthesis and Sintering of Nanostructured ZrB2-Al2O3 Composite

ZrB2 is considered a candidate material for ultra-high temperature ceramics because of its high thermal conductivity, high melting point, and low coefficient of thermal expansion. Despite these attractive properties, ZrB2 applications are limited by its low fracture toughness below the brittle-ductile transition temperature. To improve its ductile properties, the approach universally utilized has been to add a second material to form composites, and to fabricate nanostructured materials. In this study a dense nanostructured ZrB2-Al2O3 composite was rapidly sintered using the pulsed current activated heating (PCAH) method within 3 min in one step, from mechanically synthesized powders of ZrB2 and Al2O3. Consolidation was accomplished using an effective combination of current and mechanical pressure. A highly dense ZrB2- Al2O3 composite with a relative density of up to 97.4% was fabricated using the simultaneous application of 70 MPa pressure and a pulsed current. The fracture toughness and hardness of the ZrB2-Al2O3 composite were 3.9 MPa.m1/2 and 1917 kg/mm2, respectively. The fracture toughness of the composite was higher than that of monolithic ZrB2.

Progress in Preparation of ZrB2 Nanopowders Based on Traditional Solid-State Synthesis

ZrB2 is of particular interest among ultra-high temperature ceramics because it exhibits excellent thermal resistance at high temperature, as well as chemical stability, high hardness, low cost, and good electrical and thermal conductivity, which meet the requirements of high-temperature components of hyper-sonic aircraft in extreme environments. As raw materials and basic units of ultra-high temperature ceramics and their composites, ZrB2 powders provide an important way for researchers to improve material properties and explore new properties by way of synthesis design and innovation. In recent years, the development of ZrB2 powders’ synthesis method has broken through the classification of traditional solid-phase method, liquid-phase method, and gas-phase method, and there is a trend of integration of them. The present review covers the most important methods used in ZrB2 nanopowder synthesis, focusing on the solid-phase synthesis and its improved process, including modified self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, solution-derived precursor method, and plasma-enhanced exothermic reaction. Specific examples and strategies in synthesis of ZrB2 nano powders are introduced, followed by challenges and the perspectives on future directions. The integration of various synthesis methods, the combination of different material components, and the connection between synthesis and its subsequent application process is the trend of development in the future.