Ultra-High Strength TiC/Refractory High-Entropy-Alloy Composite Prepared by Powder Metallurgy

A TiC-based ceramic composite with refractory high-entropy-alloy (HEA) binders was developed through a novel reactive sintering method. In the process, refractory carbide powders were reacted with Ti powder at high temperature, and in situ formation of Ti carbides and refractory HEA phases occurred. The results indicate that only body-centered-cubic HEA phases and TiC phases are formed after the reactive sintering. The microstructure of the composite is homogeneous, consisting of ultra-fine TiC particles with an average size of 0.85 mu m and HEA grains with an average grain size of 1.8 mu m. The TiC/HEA composite shows an ultra-high room-temperature compressive strength (> 3000 MPa), compared to 1790-2210 MPa for the conventional TiC cermets.