International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials最新文献

{"title":"Novel hardmetals with nanograin reinforced binder: Structure, properties and applications","authors":"I. Konyashin,&nbsp;B. Ries","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional (first-generation) hardmetals with binders reinforced by hard W-Co-C nanoparticles, which are obtained by a special heat-treatment technology, having a brand name of MasterGrade™ were developed and implemented in industry about 20 years ago. Although they have significantly improved performance, conducting the heat-treatment is expensive and the nanoparticles are thermally unstable; their precipitation process is suppressed by impurities present in secondary raw materials employed in the manufacture. There is therefore a need to develop alternative hardmetals with nanograin reinforced binder obtained using another approach. As a result of basic research, a new phenomenon with respect to WC-TaC-Co hardmetals was discovered and reported in the literature. It was established that small amounts of TaC added to WC-Co hardmetals form an oversaturated solid solution in cobalt when solidifying the liquid binder during cooling from sintering temperatures. This solid solution decomposes when further cooling in the solid state resulting in the formation of (Ta,W)C nanoprecipitates in the binder. Based on this phenomenon novel hardmetal grades with binder reinforced by the (Ta,W)C nanoprecipitates designated as the “second-generation MasterGrade™“were developed and implemented in the manufacture. The nanoprecipitates form when cooling the hardmetals from sintering temperatures, allowing the need for consequent heat-treatment to be eliminated. The novel hardmetals are characterized by improved performance in comparison with standard WC-Co materials and the first-generation MasterGrade™ in laboratory performance tests on percussive drilling and concrete-cutting. The high temperature creep resistance of the submicron second-generation MasterGrade™ grade is significantly greater than that of the conventional grade with nearly the same WC mean grain size. Results of a lab test on subjecting walker module cubes, which belong to a special type of cubic anvils, to a high temperature and ultra-high pressure for a long time indicated that the deformation rate of the novel hardmetal is nearly half of that of a conventional submicron grade. The manufacture process of the novel hardmetals with nanograin reinforced binder is more economical and sustainable compared to that of the first-generation MasterGrade™.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107397"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Process optimization and performance study of WC-10Co-4Cr coatings prepared by HVOF spraying","authors":"Xinglong Fu,&nbsp;Xiumin Chen,&nbsp;Yong Deng","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107420","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107420","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study used high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying to prepare WC-10Co-4Cr coatings on the surface of 7075 aluminum alloy and investigated the effects of the propane flow rate, oxygen flow rate, and spraying distance on the coating's porosity, hardness, and wear resistance. The coating exhibited optimal performance of a hardness of 802.79 HV and a wear rate of only 1.24 × 10⁻⁶ mm³N⁻¹ m⁻¹ when the propane flow rate was 7 m³·h⁻¹, the oxygen flow rate was 8 m³·h⁻¹, and the spraying distance was 200 mm. The main wear mechanism of the coating was fatigue wear. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and thermodynamic analysis showed that WC particles were partially decarbonized to form W₂C during high-temperature spraying. At the interface, Al reacted with free carbon and Co to form Al₄C₃ and AlCo.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107420"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145106699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling the effects of multi-element interaction on phase compatibility and interfacial bonding in AgCuSnTi/diamond brazing system via first-principles calculations","authors":"Jiahe Zhou ,&nbsp;Xiongying Jiang ,&nbsp;Zhi Xiang ,&nbsp;Hao Wu ,&nbsp;Yuyang Li ,&nbsp;Chuanyang Lu ,&nbsp;Huaxin Li ,&nbsp;Yuwen Cheng ,&nbsp;Jianguo Yang ,&nbsp;Yanming He","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diamond brazing is a critical joining technique for advanced thermal management and cutting applications, where joint reliability primarily depends on the resulting interlayer. In this study, first-principles calculations were conducted to investigate the effects of multi-element interaction on phase compatibility and interfacial adhesion in the AgCuSnTi/diamond brazing system. Adsorption and charge-transfer characteristics of Ag, Cu, Sn, and Ti atoms on diamond were first examined, revealing that Ti exhibited the strongest electronic interaction and acted as the primary wetting agent that enhanced interfacial bonding. To capture the compositional complexity of the interlayer, major phases were doped with additional filler elements. The calculated formation energies and mechanical parameters demonstrated strong composition dependence, with certain doped configurations compromising thermodynamic and mechanical stability. Moreover, layer-specific segregation at the diamond interface indicated that interface-closest segregation severely weakened bonding strength and facilitated premature fracture. Electronic structure and charge density analyses clarified the bonding disruption mechanisms. These results could advance the understanding of microstructure-property relationships in carbon-based materials brazed with AgCuSnTi fillers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107419"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on microstructure and arc ablation performance of WCu composites prepared by Ni-decorated W powders","authors":"Nan Deng ,&nbsp;Zhongxin Xu ,&nbsp;Qiao Zhang ,&nbsp;Zheng Chen ,&nbsp;Yang Wang ,&nbsp;Shuhua Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of high-performance tungsten‑copper (W<img>Cu) contact materials is hindered by severe mass loss under coupled thermal-electrical-mechanical stresses, particularly due to inhomogeneous microstructures and weak sintering necks in conventional composites. Here, we propose a scalable strategy utilizing Ni-decorated W powders to engineer rapid diffusion pathways during infiltration, addressing these limitations synergistically. The 250 nm Ni particle activates tungsten particles through interfacial diffusion, enabling robust sintering neck formation while maintaining structural integrity of the W skeleton. This microstructure engineering produced Nickel-activated W<img>Cu composites, which reduced the mass loss by 51.8 % compared with the unmodified materials. This work not only deciphers the role of decorated interfaces in microstructural homogenization but also establishes a paradigm for designing durable electrical contact materials via nano-scale surface activation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107416"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cobalt-removed polycrystalline diamond compact with bioinspired texture: Synergistic tribological performance enhancement for diamond thrust bearings","authors":"Jiaqi Yun ,&nbsp;Baochang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Regarding the friction pair material for diamond thrust bearings, polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) is required to exhibit pronounced heat resistance, abrasion resistance and surface lubricating capabilities. In the present research, a cobalt- removed textured PDC (CRT-PDC) inspired by the dung beetle was fabricated by laser processing and cobalt removal treatment. Under the simulated downhole axial load and rotational speed of diamond thrust bearings, the tribological behaviors of the fabricated PDC were examined and a parallel comparison was drawn with those of PDC with sole cobalt removal or exclusive surface texturing. The test results showed that the CRT-PDC exhibits tribological properties that are optimally adapted to the operational conditions of diamond thrust bearings, thereby proffering a novel remedy for augmenting the service life of diamond bearings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107418"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microstructure and wear performance of spark plasma-sintered AlCrFeMnNiW0.5 high-entropy alloy","authors":"Hansung Lee ,&nbsp;Sheetal Kumar Dewangan ,&nbsp;Cheenepalli Nagarjuna ,&nbsp;Gyosik Youn ,&nbsp;Vinod Kumar ,&nbsp;Byungmin Ahn","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107413","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107413","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we prepared the AlCrFeMnNiW_0.5 high-entropy alloy (HEA) by mechanical alloying (MA) and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS). The investigation focused on the alloy's phase composition and microstructural characteristics. The milled powders revealed a single-phase BCC solid solution. After SPS, the sample exhibited a sigma phase (σ), ordered B2, BCC, and minor FCC phases with high hardness of 839 ± 10 HV. To assess the wear behavior of HEA, dry sliding tests were performed at room temperature by varying the normal load from 2 to 15 N at a constant sliding velocity (6 cm/s) and sliding time (10 min). The results found that the coefficient of friction (COF) decreased from 0.16 to 0.12, while the specific wear rate reduced from 2.49 to 1.65 × 10⁻⁵ mm³/Nm with increasing normal load. These findings indicate exceptional wear resistance in this HEA compared to other HEAs, attributed to its superior hardness. Consequently, the tungsten-containing high-entropy alloy demonstrates significant importance for outstanding hardness and wear resistance, as discussed comprehensively in this work. Moreover, tungsten-containing HEAs broaden their potential applications across diverse industries such as cutting tools and the aerospace industry, offering enhanced performance, extended service life, and improved efficiency in various critical components and tools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107413"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Accelerated discovery through multi-property screening strategy: Achieving strength-ductility synergy in TiZrHfNbMoTa RHEAs","authors":"Ruixia Sun ,&nbsp;Haiqing Yin ,&nbsp;Qiangqiang Yuan ,&nbsp;Cong Zhang ,&nbsp;Ruijie Zhang ,&nbsp;Yongwei Wang ,&nbsp;Dil Faraz Khan ,&nbsp;Shuai Huang ,&nbsp;Huaping Xiong ,&nbsp;Xuanhui Qu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107412","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107412","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) exhibit excellent potential for high-temperature applications. However, their vast compositional space and the challenge of optimizing multiple properties impede further development. To address these challenges, this study integrates high-throughput computation and machine learning to identify compositions that meet multiple criteria, including density, strength, ductility, and resistance to high-temperature softening. A Bayesian multi-property optimization framework is employed to efficiently enhance both compressive yield strength and ductility. After three iterative cycles, the optimized alloys exhibit favorable combined yield strength and ductility compared to the RHEAs used for model training. Among these, the Ti₂₈Zr₁₅Hf₂₀Nb₁₄Mo₁₆Ta₇ alloy demonstrates notable overall properties, including a compressive yield strength of 1327 ± 24 MPa, ductility of 37.9 ± 1 %, and specific yield strength at room temperature of 155.9 MPa·g⁻¹·cm³. Additionally, it exhibits excellent resistance to high-temperature softening and low density.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107412"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molybdenum-Rhenium alloy: A focused review of strengthening-toughening mechanism and method","authors":"Junzhou Yang ,&nbsp;Shichen Wang ,&nbsp;Kuaishe Wang ,&nbsp;Yongqiang Fang ,&nbsp;Hua Wang ,&nbsp;Li Wang ,&nbsp;Hairui Xing ,&nbsp;Ping Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to the excellent high-temperature strength, radiation resistance, and deformation capacity, Molybdenum-Rhenium (Mo-Re) alloys have critical application in the nuclear industries and aerospace fields, etc. This paper systematically reviews the research on Mo-Re alloys by timelines, focusing on strengthening mechanisms, preparation techniques, multi-scale simulations, and engineering applications. Studies have demonstrated that the \"rhenium effect\" significantly enhances the mechanical properties of Mo-based alloys, with solid-solution strengthening, grain boundary purification, twin deformation, and phase-transformation strengthening. Advances in powder metallurgy, mechanical alloying, and additive manufacturing have also provided effective pathways for alloy designing. The synergistic application of multi-scale computations, such as first-principles calculations, machine-learning potentials, and phase-field simulations, has deepened the understanding of micro-mechanistic behaviors. Notably, current research harbors several critical gaps: (i) the micro-mechanisms underlying the peak ductility of low Re alloys remain need thoroughly elucidated; (ii) the radiation damage behavior and phase-transformation kinetics of high Re alloys necessitate further exploration; (iii) the hot-zone embitterment issue in welding processes demands urgent resolution; (iv) a model linking composition, processing, and performance is still lacking. Future investigations should prioritize the development of novel low Re high-toughness alloys designs and preparation, establishment of multi-field coupled performance prediction models, optimization of low-cost fabrication techniques, and development of in-situ characterization to reveal the deformation mechanisms. This review aims to offer theoretical guidance for the future-depth research, not only consolidates a century of insights but also provides a roadmap for next-generation refractory alloys.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 107408"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic strengthening through moderate B2 phase and smallest grain size for enhanced wear resistance in Ti2Zr0.75NbVAlx lightweight refractory high-entropy alloys","authors":"Xinlong Zhang ,&nbsp;Zixian Xiong ,&nbsp;Zhiyu Feng ,&nbsp;Bingzhao Wu ,&nbsp;Chunyu Zhao ,&nbsp;Lei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, we systematically investigate the synergistic effect of B2 phase content and grain size on the friction and wear performance of Ti₂Zr_0.75NbVAl_x (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9) lightweight refractory high-entropy alloys (LRHEAs). Microstructural characterization reveals that the Al0.7 alloy exhibits a moderate B2 phase fraction and the smallest grain size (236.82 μm), leading to superior wear resistance compared to alloys with either minor or excessive B2 phase content (Al0.7 alloy wear rate: 3.6358 × 10⁻⁴ mm³/N·m). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations demonstrate that the combination of a moderate B2 phase and fine grained structure effectively suppresses dislocation multiplication and propagation during friction, minimizing surface damage. The enhanced performance of the Al0.7 alloy is attributed to the synergistic strengthening mechanism: the ordered B2 phase impedes dislocation multiplication, while high-density grain boundaries further restrict dislocation mobility. These findings provide critical insights into the design of advanced wear-resistant LRHEAs by optimizing phase composition and grain refinement, offering a promising pathway for developing high-performance structural materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107414"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144931617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grain refinement and crack suppression of fusion-repaired tungsten via electron beam oscillation","authors":"Ziyang Yu ,&nbsp;Wanjing Wang ,&nbsp;Peisong Du ,&nbsp;Huaqi Xu ,&nbsp;Jichao Wang ,&nbsp;Qiaoling Wang ,&nbsp;Zhenyu Dai ,&nbsp;Yuping Xu ,&nbsp;Haishan Zhou ,&nbsp;Guangnan Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2025.107410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tungsten (W) is an important plasma-facing material (PFM) and has been widely used in multiple fusion devices. Some structural damage often occurs on the surface of tungsten materials during service. However, its reliable repair is impeded by its inherent high melting point and recrystallization brittleness. The detrimental microstructural coarsening and cracking are observed during conventional fusion-based repair. To address these challenges, this study introduces a novel repair strategy employing an oscillating electron beam. Systematic optimization of the oscillation mode and speed enabled effective modulation of the molten pool's solidification behavior, transforming the detrimental coarse columnar grains into a uniform, fine-grained equiaxed microstructure. The optimized process successfully produced a crack-free repair of a 1-mm-deep simulated defect on a pure tungsten plate. This work validates a processing strategy and provides a foundational mechanistic understanding for the defect-free fusion repair of tungsten and other high-performance refractory metals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":14216,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Refractory Metals & Hard Materials","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 107410"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144931618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}