Ceramics International最新文献

{"title":"Cerium dioxide nanoparticles reinforced 3D-printed BCP bioceramic scaffolds toward enhanced mechanical, antioxidant, and osteogenic activities","authors":"Jiaru Lu,&nbsp;Chonggui Li,&nbsp;Yilin Chen,&nbsp;Jiuxiao Li,&nbsp;Tonghe Zhu,&nbsp;Hongmei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The repair of bone defects exceeding the natural regenerative capacity of bone remains a significant clinical challenge. Although various strategies have been explored, 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds have emerged as a promising therapeutic solution. However, conventional bioceramics suitable for 3D printing often exhibit insufficient mechanical strength, limited antioxidant activity, and insufficient osteogenic activity. To overcome these limitations, three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds were fabricated by incorporating cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO₂NPs) into biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) bioceramics containing 70 wt% hydroxyapatite (HA) and 30 wt% β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). This composite approach aimed to enhance both antioxidant activity and osteogenic differentiation. The physicochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, in vitro cellular responses, and osteogenic potential of the scaffolds were systematically assessed. Results demonstrated that scaffolds containing 10 wt% CeO₂NPs showed significantly improved mechanical and biological performance, particularly in antioxidant activity, compared to pure BCP scaffolds. Furthermore, a slight increase in microenvironmental pH induced by the BCP matrix may further enhance the antioxidant effects of CeO₂NPs and promote osteogenesis. This study presents a BCP-CeO₂ composite scaffold with dual functions of antioxidant activity and osteogenic induction. It highlights that integrating CeO₂NPs into BCP bioceramics via 3D printing technology holds promise for developing multifunctional scaffolds suitable for advanced bone tissue engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 46547-46565"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174407","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":"Mechanical properties and the anomalous trade-off between ferroelectricity and electrostrain performance via Sm3+ A-/B-site substitution in KNN-based ceramics","authors":"Yongshang Tian,&nbsp;Chunying Liu,&nbsp;Yashan Li,&nbsp;Mengyao Chen,&nbsp;Yufei Wang,&nbsp;Yike Zheng,&nbsp;Xiongjie Hu,&nbsp;Qiangshan Jing","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Utilising the amphoteric doping behaviour of rare-earth ions to regulate defect chemistry is an effective strategy for enhancing the electrical properties of KNN-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. In this work, (1−<em>x</em>)K_0.5Na_0.5Nb_0.98Ta_0.02O₃-<em>x</em>Sm₂O₃ (KNNT-<em>x</em>Sm) ceramics were prepared using a conventional solid-state reaction. The effects of varying <em>x</em> on phase composition, average grain size, oxygen-vacancy concentration, and defect dipoles were systematically investigated, and the correlations of these properties with dielectric dispersion, ferroelectric relaxation, and electrostrain behaviour were explored. Key factors influencing Vickers hardness were also explored. The results showed that Sm³⁺ ions may modulate oxygen vacancy concentration and microstructure, thereby affecting the overall material performance. At <em>x</em> = 1.05 mol%, the ceramics exhibited excellent properties, including a remanent polarisation of 52.64 μC/cm², piezoelectric coefficient of 251.79 p.m./V, and Vickers hardness of 5.58 GPa. An anomalous trade-off between remanent polarisation and piezoelectric coefficient was observed and is suggested to be associated with changes in oxygen-vacancy concentration and defect dipoles arising from the site-occupancy transition of Sm³⁺ ions. Furthermore, the Vickers hardness of KNNT-<em>x</em>Sm ceramics appears to be primarily governed by lattice energy and microstructure. This study provides valuable insights into the optimisation of rare-earth-doped KNN-based piezoceramics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 44364-44374"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174498","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":"Red mud incorporated alkali-activated metakaolin materials with enhanced photon and electron attenuation","authors":"Taha Erdogan,&nbsp;Cansu Kurtulus,&nbsp;Meryem Cansu Sahin,&nbsp;Recep Kurtulus","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.372","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.372","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of sustainable radiation shielding materials has gained increasing attention due to the environmental and health concerns associated with conventional lead- and cement-based systems. In this study, red mud (RM), a highly alkaline industrial waste generated during alumina production, was utilized as a functional additive in metakaolin (MK)-based alkali-activated composites to develop environmentally friendly shielding materials with improved photon and electron attenuation capability. Four different RM-MK compositions were synthesized and systematically characterized in terms of structural, thermal, morphological, mechanical, and radiation attenuation behavior. Increasing RM incorporation significantly improved the density and compressive strength of the composites, increasing these values from 1.69 to 1.83 g cm⁻³ and from 14 to 43 MPa, respectively. XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDS, TGA/DSC and water absorption analyses revealed that RM addition increased that RM addition preserved the dominant amorphous aluminosilicate structure while reducing water absorption from 21.44% to 16.06%, indicating a less permeable and apparently more compact matrix despite the increased chemical heterogeneity. Gamma-ray attenuation performance was experimentally investigated at 356, 662, 1173, and 1332 keV using a NaI(Tl)-based gamma spectrometry system and further validated through Phy-X/PSD calculations and GAMOS Monte Carlo simulations. RM-rich composites exhibited higher attenuation coefficients together with lower HVL, TVL, and MFP values. Among all compositions, the MK60 sample demonstrated the best shielding performance because of its increased density and Fe-rich phase content. Electron attenuation behavior was also experimentally evaluated under clinical linear accelerator conditions within the 4-18 MeV range and compared with Eclipse Monte Carlo calculations. The results demonstrate that RM can effectively enhance radiation attenuation performance in alkali-activated matrices while simultaneously enabling sustainable waste utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 44974-44988"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174619","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":"Structure, thermal and magnetic properties of the ternary co-doped hexaferrite SrFe12O19 with La, Co and Zn","authors":"Yonglong Xie,&nbsp;Jin Tang,&nbsp;Wuguo Yang,&nbsp;Zhenyu He,&nbsp;Dan Li,&nbsp;Lang Bai,&nbsp;Yuxin Du,&nbsp;Wenliang Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.485","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.485","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>SrFe₁₂O₁₉ ferrite is widely valued for its exceptional combination of magnetic, thermal, and electrical properties, rendering it highly suitable for applications including permanent magnet motors, magnetic data storage media, and microwave absorbers. In this work, La–Co–Zn ternary co-doped Sr_0.76La_0.24Fe_2nCo_0.16−xZn_xO₁₉ ferrites (n = 5.5, x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12, and 0.15) were prepared by a solid-state synthesis route, and their structure, thermal behavior, spectroscopic characteristics, and magnetic properties were investigated. XRD/Rietveld results show that the samples are mainly composed of the M-type phase, while residual α-Fe₂O₃ impurity phase appears mainly in the low-Zn samples and decreases after Zn incorporation. FTIR spectra show Fe–O vibration bands related to tetrahedral and octahedral coordination, and the peak shifts indicate changes in the local bonding environment. DTA shows Curie-related thermal anomalies in the range of 421.96–502.31 °C, with Zn_0.03 exhibiting the highest DTA-derived apparent Curie temperature. For the powder samples, x = 0.09 exhibits excellent saturation magnetization, which may be associated with Zn-related substitution effects on the net magnetic moment and the reduction of impurity phases. For the isotropic bulk samples, x = 0.03 gives <em>B</em>_<em>r</em> = 0.2566 T, <em>H</em>_<em>cj</em> = 413.00 kA/m, <em>H</em>_<em>cb</em> = 174.83 kA/m, and <em>(BH)</em>_<em>max</em> = 1.454 MGOe. Owing to its favorable magnetic performance and cost-effectiveness, this material can be used for motor-related and magnetic-storage-related applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 25","pages":"Pages 46132-46147"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149174627","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":"Pr doping of SmBaFe2O5+δ enhances the electrochemical performance as a symmetrical electrode for solid oxide fuel cells","authors":"Ruisen Zhang,&nbsp;Lanlan Guo,&nbsp;Chunling Lu,&nbsp;Dongchao Qiu,&nbsp;Biao Wang,&nbsp;Bingbing Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focuses on the optimization of the redox performance of minor Pr doping SmBaFe_2-<em>x</em>Pr_<em>x</em>O_5+δ (<em>x = </em>0,0.05,0.10) symmetrical electrode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The XRD results show that a small amount of Pr doping SmBaFe_2-<em>x</em>Pr_<em>x</em>O_5+δ forms a tetragonal perovskite structure after high-temperature calcination. Pr doping SmBaFe_2-<em>x</em>Pr_<em>x</em>O_5+δ significantly decreases the oxygen vacancy formation energy, which is beneficial for improving the catalytic activity for symmetrical electrode. The polarization resistance of the SmBaFe_1.95Pr_0.05O_5+δ (SBFP05) sample at 700 °C decreases to 0.090 Ω cm², which is approximately 43% lower than that of SmBaFe₂O_5+δ (SBF) in air. Compared with SBF, the polarization resistance of SBFP05 decreases from 1.19 Ω cm² to 0.38 Ω cm² in H₂ atmosphere, and decreases by 68%. At 800 °C, the fuel cell with the symmetrical electrode configuration of SBFP05|LSGM|SBFP05 achieves a peak power density of 1203 mW cm⁻², and operates stably at 0.7 V for 200 h with an overall attenuation rate of 0.019%·h⁻¹, demonstrating excellent durability. This work proves that minor Pr doping SmBaFe_2-<em>x</em>Pr_<em>x</em>O_5+δ can simultaneously achieve electrochemical activity and interface stability, providing a feasible strategy for the design of highly stable and symmetrical electrode materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 24","pages":"Pages 43597-43607"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149071341","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":"Enhancing the proportion of active grain boundaries in ZnO varistor via ZnO@Bi2O3@SiO2 core-shell-shell structured nanopowders","authors":"Zhi Ye,&nbsp;Li Song,&nbsp;Zhiyao Fu,&nbsp;Sibo Mao,&nbsp;Junjia He","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Active grain boundaries form the basis for the non-linear characteristics exhibited by ZnO varistors. To enhance the proportion of active grain boundaries in ZnO varistors, a method using ZnO@Bi₂O₃@SiO₂ core-shell-shell structured nanopowder as the sintering feedstock was proposed.</div><div>Using ZnO@Bi₂O₃@SiO₂ varistor samples (sintered from ZnO@Bi₂O₃@SiO₂ core-shell-shell structured nanopowder) as the experimental group, and ZnO@Bi₂O₃-SiO₂ varistor samples (sintered from ZnO@Bi₂O₃ core-shell structured nanopowder doped with SiO₂) and ZnO-Bi₂O₃-SiO₂ varistor samples (sintered from mixed powder) as control groups. The inhibition effect of the dense SiO₂ shell on Bi₂O₃ volatilisation, the improvement of Bi distribution by the core-shell-shell structure, and the influence of this structure on the formation of double Schottky barriers within varistors were systematically investigated using TEM-EDS, F-SEM, XRD, TEM-BSE, and AFM-KPFM. In addition, the enhancement in the proportion of active grain boundaries in the ZnO@Bi₂O₃@SiO₂ sample as compared with the mixed sample was estimated based on the work function difference <em>ΔΦ</em> between the active grain boundary and its adjacent grains, the potential gradient <em>E</em>_<em>1mA</em>, and the total number of grain boundaries per unit height <em>N</em>. The results indicate that, compared with mixed samples, using ZnO@Bi₂O₃@SiO₂ nanopowder as sintering feedstock can effectively increase the proportion of active grain boundaries. When Zn²⁺: Bi³⁺:Si⁴⁺ = 1:2.5 mol%:7.5 mol%, the proportion of active grain boundaries increases by approximately 77.2%. This is attributed to the close and thorough contact between SiO₂ and Bi₂O₃, which promotes the transformation of the liquid phase into a Si-containing phase. Furthermore, the protective effect of the dense SiO₂ shell prevents Bi₂O₃ from being exposed to air, thereby suppressing the volatilisation of Bi₂O₃ and improving the distribution of Bi₂O₃.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 24","pages":"Pages 43363-43376"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149071544","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":"Switchable photovoltaic effect in anatase TiO2 films via donor-acceptor co-doping","authors":"Wenjing Hua,&nbsp;Jie Wang,&nbsp;Xiaoxia Yang,&nbsp;Yuqi Zhang,&nbsp;Weidong Fei,&nbsp;Yu Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>V⁵⁺-Bi³⁺ co-doped polycrystalline TiO₂ films ((V_0.5Bi_0.5)_<em>x</em>Ti_1-<em>x</em>O₂) prepared on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by sol-gel method have been found to exhibit switchable photovoltaic properties. The significant photovoltaic effect of as-fabricated films indicates existence of self-polarization within the films, which results in the formation of a built-in electric field. And as-fabricated (V_0.5Bi_0.5)_0.02Ti_0.98O₂ film has a photovoltaic effect under 365 nm light illumination (8 mW/cm²), with open circuit voltage and short circuit current density of 0.217 V and 1.24 μA/cm². It has been also found that the photovoltaic effects of the co-doped films can be switched via an external electric field. After negative electric field poling, the open circuit voltage of the (V_0.5Bi_0.5)_0.02Ti_0.98O₂ film increases to 0.258 V. However, the open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the film can be reversed after positive electric field poling, and the open circuit voltage and short circuit current increase with the increase in poling electric field, reaching maximum values of 0.635 V and 4.91 μA/cm², respectively. Based on experiment and calculation results, this study clearly reveals the relationship between crystal structure, ferroelectricity and photovoltaic effect. The donor-acceptor co-doped TiO₂ films can therefore be applied in ferroelectric photovoltaic devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 24","pages":"Pages 43377-43385"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149071545","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":"Effect of Dy3+ concentration on the phase structure and photoluminescence of NaAlGeO4 phosphors","authors":"Yee-Shin Chang,&nbsp;Sean Wu,&nbsp;Guo-Ju Chen,&nbsp;Yong-Xuan Chen,&nbsp;Tai-Chen Kuo","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.216","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dy³⁺ doped NaAlGeO₄ phosphors were successfully prepared by a solid-state reaction method at 800 °C for 5 h. The influences of Dy³⁺ concentration on the crystal structure, morphology, photoluminescence behavior, chromaticity coordinates, and thermal stability were systematically examined. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed monoclinic NaAlGeO₄ as the major phase, accompanied by secondary phases due to the limited solid solubility arising from the large ionic radius difference between Al³⁺ and Dy³⁺. Morphological observations showed irregular particles with heterogeneous size distribution. Upon 250 nm excitation, the samples exhibited predominantly host-related blue emission, whereas under 350 nm excitation, characteristic Dy³⁺ emissions assigned to the ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2, ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2, and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_11/2 transitions became prominent. The highest emission intensity was achieved at 0.5 mol% Dy³⁺, while increasing Dy³⁺ concentration progressively tuned the emission color from warm white to cool white. The phosphor containing 7 mol% Dy³⁺ showed chromaticity coordinates closest to the NTSC standard white point. Moreover, the prepared phosphors remained emissive within the measured temperature range and showed limited chromaticity variation under 350 nm excitation. The present study highlights the potential of Dy³⁺ activated NaAlGeO₄ as a tunable blue-to-white emitting phosphor for ultraviolet-excited white-light and related photonic applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 24","pages":"Pages 43302-43311"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149071549","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":"Role of Gd3+ substitution on magnetic properties and enhancement of self-heating ability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia application","authors":"Rahulgorky Sahayaraj,&nbsp;Karolinekersin Enoch,&nbsp;Sudhanshu Shekhar Pati,&nbsp;Anbumozhi Angayarkanni Somasundaram","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Magnetic hyperthermia is an emerging modality for cancer treatment that offers significant potential due to its non-invasive and localized thermal ablation capability. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles generate heat when subjected to alternating magnetic field, making them suitable for hyperthermia applications. However, achieving the desired hyperthermic temperature within a short time frame remains a significant challenge. In this study, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were doped with varying concentrations of Gd³⁺ ions (0%, 2%, 5%, and 10%) using a simple co-precipitation method to enhance heating efficiency. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of single-phase inverse spinel structures with an average crystallite size ranging from 10 nm to 14 nm. Magnetic measurements revealed a reduction in saturation magnetization (M_S) from 61 emu/g for undoped Fe₃O₄ to 43 emu/g for the 10% Gd-doped sample, attributed to antiferromagnetic coupling between Gd³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. Electron spin resonance studies indicated reduced dipole–dipole interactions in the doped samples, contributing to enhanced heating performance. Calorimetric evaluations under an alternating magnetic field of 8 kA/m at 500 kHz demonstrated superior heating efficiency for the 10% Gd-doped sample, with a specific absorption rate of 20.25 W/g and an effective specific absorption rate of 0.63 nHm²kg⁻¹, significantly outperforming undoped Fe₃O₄ with specific absorption rate of 3.49 W/g, effective specific absorption rate of 0.11 nHm²kg⁻¹. Notably, all samples reached therapeutic temperatures within 60 s, minimizing exposure time. These findings highlight Gd-doped Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as promising candidates for efficient and rapid-response magnetic hyperthermia within clinically safe external parameters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 24","pages":"Pages 43075-43086"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149071645","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":"Cr-assisted low-temperature densification of (TiZrHfNbTa)C multi-component carbide: reaction process and mechanical properties","authors":"Fangze Chen,&nbsp;Wen Zhang,&nbsp;Chao Pan,&nbsp;Zelin Liao,&nbsp;Jiahao Qiu,&nbsp;Hao Wang,&nbsp;Jinyong Zhang,&nbsp;Lin Ren,&nbsp;Fan Zhang,&nbsp;Zhengyi Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.07.196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The fabrication of metallic Cr-doped (TiZrHfNbTa)C multi-component carbides by carbothermal reduction coupled with spark plasma sintering at 1500-1800 °C is reported in this study. The promoting effects of Cr addition (10, 20 at.%) on low-temperature densification, mechanical properties, and underlying reaction process of (TiZrHfNbTa)C are systematically investigated. It is revealed that the metallic Cr initially reacts with carbon from the multi-component carbide matrix to form Cr₃C₂, which subsequently agglomerates. With the temperature rising, Cr₃C₂ gradually forms a liquid phase that diffuses to dissolve into the matrix while concurrently segregating at the triple junction of grain boundaries, significantly promoting the densification procedure. Moreover, the ceramic containing 20 at.% Cr and sintered at 1800 °C for 10 min exhibits the highest relative density and optimal mechanical properties with the Vickers hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness reaching 23.6 ± 1.2 GPa, 461 ± 12 MPa and 3.9 ± 0.2 MPa m^1/2, respectively. This can be attributed to the synergistic effect of solid-solution strengthening and liquid-phase sintering induced by Cr addition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":267,"journal":{"name":"Ceramics International","volume":"52 24","pages":"Pages 43047-43056"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149071670","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}