{"title":"Microstructural and Nanomechanical Characterization of CrCoAlHf/YSZ Multilayer Coatings Deposited by DC/RF Magnetron Sputtering","authors":"Syed Faizan Altaf, Atikur Rahman, M. F. Wani","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70044","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ces2.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study presents the microstructural, chemical, and nanomechanical behavior of multilayer coatings of Cr/CoAlHf/YSZ deposited on Inconel 718 alloy using combined DC/RF magnetron sputtering with a focus on coatings deposited at 300°C for high-temperature aerospace applications. FESEM and EDS analyses indicate the formation of a multilayer structure with high density and minimal porosity, as well as homogeneous elemental distribution of the Cr, CoAlHf, and YSZ layers, implying that no interfacial diffusion is occurring. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirm the formation of stable phases, including ZrO<sub>2</sub>, Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Cr, HfO<sub>2</sub>, and a Co–Cr–Al–Hf solid solution. Nanoindentation shows stable deformation behavior and high load-bearing capacity, where hardness exhibited an increasing trend from 7.94 to 11.25 GPa in the range of 500–2500 µN, decreasing to 10.70 GPa at 3500 µN, which is explained as the change of reverse indentation size effect (r-ISE) to conventional indentation size effect (ISE) for the change of applied loads. Nano-scratch testing at gradually increased ramp loads confirms good coating adhesion, characterized by stable frictional behavior and minimal surface damage. XPS survey analysis confirms the chemical integrity of the multilayer system, with both strong Zr3d and Y3p peaks indicating the YSZ top layer, and distinct signals for Co, Cr, Al, and Hf, indicating the underlying bond coat. Overall, the results reveal that deposition at 300°C is beneficial for favorable microstructural evolution, chemical stability, and enhanced nanomechanical performance, making the CoCrAlHf/YSZ multilayer a promising protective coating for Inconel 718 components exposed to extreme aerospace service environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70044","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147288297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microstructural and Nanomechanical Characterization of CrCoAlHf/YSZ Multilayer Coatings Deposited by DC/RF Magnetron Sputtering","authors":"Syed Faizan Altaf, Atikur Rahman, M. F. Wani","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study presents the microstructural, chemical, and nanomechanical behavior of multilayer coatings of Cr/CoAlHf/YSZ deposited on Inconel 718 alloy using combined DC/RF magnetron sputtering with a focus on coatings deposited at 300°C for high-temperature aerospace applications. FESEM and EDS analyses indicate the formation of a multilayer structure with high density and minimal porosity, as well as homogeneous elemental distribution of the Cr, CoAlHf, and YSZ layers, implying that no interfacial diffusion is occurring. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirm the formation of stable phases, including ZrO<sub>2</sub>, Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Cr, HfO<sub>2</sub>, and a Co–Cr–Al–Hf solid solution. Nanoindentation shows stable deformation behavior and high load-bearing capacity, where hardness exhibited an increasing trend from 7.94 to 11.25 GPa in the range of 500–2500 µN, decreasing to 10.70 GPa at 3500 µN, which is explained as the change of reverse indentation size effect (r-ISE) to conventional indentation size effect (ISE) for the change of applied loads. Nano-scratch testing at gradually increased ramp loads confirms good coating adhesion, characterized by stable frictional behavior and minimal surface damage. XPS survey analysis confirms the chemical integrity of the multilayer system, with both strong Zr3d and Y3p peaks indicating the YSZ top layer, and distinct signals for Co, Cr, Al, and Hf, indicating the underlying bond coat. Overall, the results reveal that deposition at 300°C is beneficial for favorable microstructural evolution, chemical stability, and enhanced nanomechanical performance, making the CoCrAlHf/YSZ multilayer a promising protective coating for Inconel 718 components exposed to extreme aerospace service environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70044","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147288298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shaylee M. Becerra, Hande Özbayraktar, Erhan Kilinc, John C. Mauro
{"title":"Stuck on Glass: A Review of Polymer and Polymer Nanoparticle Composite Coatings in Glass Technology","authors":"Shaylee M. Becerra, Hande Özbayraktar, Erhan Kilinc, John C. Mauro","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70043","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ces2.70043","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Polymers have a vast range of beneficial properties making them desirable coating materials. They are cost-effective, easy to manufacture, and can be modified for improved properties. Adding an inorganic filler into a polymer coating improves its properties and expands its potential applications. Polymer nanoparticle composite (PNC) coatings possess the qualities of the polymer along with increased versatility and mechanical properties from the inorganic nanoparticle. Polymer and PNC coatings have played an advantageous role in tailoring glass surface properties for a variety of products. They have provided many benefits such as antibacterial and self-cleaning properties, as well as increased strength. Application of coatings to glass products spans across multiple industries including construction, automotive, pharmaceutical, packaging, and renewable energy. This review will cover common polymers and nanoparticles used for coatings on glass. The structure and properties of these polymers will be reviewed with a short introduction to the general structure of polymers. A brief overview of the mechanisms of adhesion will be followed by the specifics of adhesion between the glass and polymer. Three cost-efficient coating methods will be detailed with relative advantages and disadvantages. Perspectives on future research and applications will be discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70043","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146217161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Incorporation of Coconut Fibers Into Clay-Based Mortars: A Study on Mechanical and Microscopic Behavior","authors":"Gabriela Machado Guimarães Ferreira, Sebastião Ribeiro","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70040","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ces2.70040","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Amid growing environmental concerns and the search for sustainable building materials, this study investigated the mechanical and microstructural behavior of clay-based mortars reinforced with coconut fibers. Mixtures were produced in which natural sand was replaced by sand and clay residues, with fiber additions of 2.5% and 5% by weight of cement. The mortars were evaluated in fresh and hardened states, compressive and flexural strengths, and through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The clay residue produced compressive strength values comparable to the reference mixture. The incorporation of 5% coconut fibers resulted in a statistically significant increase in flexural strength compared to the non-reinforced mortar, despite the formation of shrinkage-induced microcracks. The analysis confirmed the presence of quartz, kaolinite, orthoclase, and calcium aluminum silicate. The results highlight the potential for applying waste and natural fibers in eco-efficient mortars, emphasizing the importance of curing and moisture control.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70040","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146130177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bahareh Kheilnezhad, Maziar Montazerian, Seong H. Kim, John C. Mauro
{"title":"Viscosity Measurement Techniques for High-Temperature Oxide Glass-Forming Systems","authors":"Bahareh Kheilnezhad, Maziar Montazerian, Seong H. Kim, John C. Mauro","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Viscosity is a fundamental physical property that governs the flow and processing behavior of glass-forming liquids. During glass manufacturing processes, it is thus important to know how rheological properties are influenced by variables such as temperature, chemical composition, and the presence of any inclusions within the melt. There is extensive literature describing theoretical models for calculating the viscosity of oxide glass-forming systems; resources dedicated to experimental methodologies for measuring oxide glass viscosity are comparatively scarce. This review therefore focuses on direct viscometry techniques as well as indirect approaches for measuring viscosity including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dilatometry combined with the Mauro–Yue–Ellison–Gupta–Allan (MYEGA) model. In addition, we highlight emerging machine-learning approaches, which offer complementary insights into glass viscosity, particularly in complex multicomponent systems. Such machine learning-based methods require large and high-quality datasets for training and validation, underscoring the vital importance of experimental measurements in establishing reliable viscosity values. Overall, the primary goal of this review is to fill a gap in the literature regarding experimental methodologies for viscosity measurement of oxide glasses, explaining their underlying principles, highlighting the challenges faced by researchers, and emphasizing the continued necessity of experimental viscosity measurements alongside theoretical and computational approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70038","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146002105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Computational Model and Experimental Validation of the Influence of Grain-Boundary Parameters on the Electrical Performance of Arrester Varistor","authors":"Zhengzheng Fu, Zongxi Zhang, Songhai Fan, Tao Cui, Donghui Luo, Pengfei Meng, Yue Yin, Jingke Guo","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<p>From a materials-computation perspective, this study integrates the electron-excitation model of double Schottky-barriers with a Voronoi network to characterize the microscopic electrical and structural properties of ZnO varistors. The quantitative influences of two pivotal barrier parameters—the grain donor density <i>N</i><sub>d</sub> and the grain-boundary interface-state density <i>N</i><sub>i</sub>—on macroscopic electrical performance metrics such as voltage gradient, leakage current, and current-withstand capability are systematically investigated. The reliability of the model is corroborated by accelerated aging tests on samples featuring a graded Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> doping profile, which also elucidate the effects of yttrium incorporation on varistor performance and aging resistance. The findings furnish a theoretical foundation for the design and fabrication of high-performance ZnO varistors and are of significant value for the development of surge arresters.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70039","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146007386","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanochemical Synthesis of Largely Amorphous Silver-Doped Calcium Phosphate Particles","authors":"Shuhei Hattori, Takashi Matsubara, Hirotaka Maeda, Yasutoshi Nishikawa, Toshihiro Kasuga","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Planetary ball milling of <i>β</i>-tricalcium phosphate (<i>β</i>-TCP) powders in acetone using 1 mm zirconia beads as milling media has been shown to produce largely amorphous, anhydrous calcium phosphate powders. This method enhances the release of Ca<sup>2</sup>⁺ and phosphate ions from the resulting particles. In this study, silver ions were successfully and uniformly incorporated into the calcium phosphate matrix by adding just 1 wt% Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> during the mechanochemical process, allowing for the straightforward fabrication of particles with well-dispersed Ag⁺ ions. When 5 wt% Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> was used, both dispersed Ag⁺ ions and metallic silver nanoparticles were detected. Upon immersion in HEPES buffer solution (pH 7.40), the concentrations of Ag⁺, Ca<sup>2</sup>⁺, and phosphate ions increased significantly within 24 h. Powder x-ray diffraction revealed time-dependent changes during immersion, attributed to hydroxyapatite formation. Antibacterial testing showed that particles doped with 1 wt% Ag<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> exhibited strong antibacterial activity against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. This mechanochemical route offers a simple and effective method for uniformly incorporating trace levels of silver ions into anhydrous amorphous calcium phosphate particles.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70035","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145958115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kimiyasu Sato, Ryutaro Usukawa, Yusuke Imai, Yuji Hotta, Hüseyin Yilmaz
{"title":"Interparticle Forces Behind Plasticity of Ceramic Pastes: A Literature Review","authors":"Kimiyasu Sato, Ryutaro Usukawa, Yusuke Imai, Yuji Hotta, Hüseyin Yilmaz","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70036","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Plastic-forming methods of ceramic pastes, such as extrusion, have been significant in the ceramics industry for many years. Despite its significance, the plasticity of ceramic pastes is poorly understood. It is essential to understand the fundamentals of ceramic paste plasticity to develop a forming technology with superior performance. The ceramic pastes’ plasticity can be characterized by the co-existence of apparently opposing properties, that is, “flowability” and “rigidity.” It has been claimed that the apparently opposing properties can be achieved by controlling the interparticle interaction that is attractive at long range and repulsive at short range. The present article aims to verify the model based on experimental results from interaction force measurements. The interaction forces are gathered by the atomic force microscope (AFM) colloid probe technique. On the basis of the discussion, it is concluded that the above microscopic model is available to interpret ceramic pastes’ macroscopic behaviors.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70036","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Influence of Phosphates on Pore Solution pH in Alkali-Activated MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-P2O5 Cement","authors":"Titus Reed, John C. Mauro","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70037","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nuclear waste storage applications require a new type of cementitious material having lower pH than Portland cement and compatibility with embedded steel. Since phosphates can be used as both pH buffers and corrosion inhibitors in carbon steel, a series of phosphate-containing alkali-activated materials were prepared from MgO-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-SiO<sub>2</sub>-P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> precursor materials with various MgO, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, SiO<sub>2</sub>, and P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> concentrations. These samples were activated with sodium hydroxide and cured for 28 days at 35°C. The impact of precursor phosphate content on pore solution composition and pH was examined using cold-water extraction (CWE) and Gibbs energy minimization (GEM) modeling. For samples activated with the same amount of sodium, higher phosphate content in the precursor material leads to lower pH in the pore solution. When the pore solution is saturated with sodium phosphate and the soluble Na/P ratio is between 2 and 3, the pH decreases from 15.1 ± 0.1 in the absence of phosphates to 11.0 ± 0.1 with phosphates. The resulting pore solution and a precipitated mixture of di- and tri-sodium phosphate have a buffering effect on the pore solution's pH and Na<sup>+</sup>, keeping the pH and Na<sup>+</sup> concentration near 11.0 and 1.0 mol/kg, respectively. This pH is within the range desired for certain nuclear waste storage applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70037","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145824802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Phase Composition-Controlled Synthesis, Microstructure, and Properties of TiB2–TiC Composite","authors":"Wenzhou Sun, Huan Liu, Lu youjun, Shidiao Xu","doi":"10.1002/ces2.70034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ces2.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<p>TiB<sub>2</sub>–TiC composite ceramics were synthesized by boro/carbothermal reduction of oxides and densified by spark plasma sintering. Thermodynamic processes within the reaction system were discussed, and phase diagrams were constructed to guide formulation design. In addition, the phase constituents, impurity content, micromorphology of the powders and densification, mechanical properties, and oxidation resistance of the composite ceramics were studied. The results indicate that reasonable adjustment of carbon content can effectively regulate the phase content in the composite ceramics, allowing for adjustable TiB<sub>2</sub> content within the range of 35–75 wt%. Additionally, it suppresses excessive grain growth of boride, maintaining the grain size of both phases at approximately 200 nm and reducing the residual C and O impurities. When the ratio of TiB<sub>2</sub>:TiC in the powder is 64.1:35.9 wt%, the grain sizes of the two phases are most similar, resulting in the highest density of sintered TiB<sub>2</sub>–TiC composite ceramics, reaching 99.78%. The corresponding Vickers hardness can reach 24.07 ± 0.53 GPa.</p>","PeriodicalId":13948,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Ceramic Engineering & Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ceramics.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ces2.70034","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145845812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}