hIn situ reaction synthesis of high-entropy carbide/diboride composite with high mechanical properties

A novel technique to simultaneously lower the synthesis temperature of high-entropy carbides and maintain their high mechanical properties was proposed. Certain amount of carbon vacancies was first introduced to significantly lower the temperature down to 2000 degrees C for uniform elemental distributions in high-entropy carbides. Those carbon vacancies were then fully eliminated through the reaction between high-entropy carbides and certain amount of boron carbide. Concomitantly, the high-entropy boride phase was formed. The elimination of carbon vacancies and the formation of high-entropy boride phase significantly improved the mechanical properties of the high-entropy carbides. A high mechanical strength over 500 MPa can be obtained by phase optimization.