PhD student

The main objective of this project is to produce high entropy ceramics (HECs) on the top layer of a high entropy alloy. HECs represent a totally new type of high-entropy materials that can have unique compositions and structures that differ distinctly from any other existing materials, as well as great possibilities of tailoring their properties via an extremely-large compositional engineering space. These materials are usually characterized by high mechanical strength and wear resistance. In order to achieve the main objective of the project we are going to examine the possibility of the application of the multi-energy, high fluence ion implantation followed by rapid thermal processing. The assumption that we will succeed in the creation of nitride ceramics with this method is the most risky part of the project, however, it may also provide an extremely high gain. Two approaches are going to be used in order to achieve the main project’s objective. At the initial stage we are going to use ‘trial and error’ method. We will perform implantation into recently synthetized FeCrAlW0.7Ta0.7. We will vary both ion beam properties, thermal processing parameters as well as the composition and microstructure of the substrate. Furthermore, in the project we will combine the trial-and-error method with highly advanced computer simulations based on Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and Thermochemistry (CALPHAD) and Density Functional Theory (DFT) in order to create a tool for prediction of theoretical HECs composition. Finally, due to the fact that the number or possible HECs compositions is beyond our ability to comprehend and investigate using current methods, we propose experimental methods based on the high throughput processing with the evaluation of the composition and properties at the nanoscale, which can significantly accelerate the comparative characteristic of a single HEC. We are going to apply nanoindentation, micropillars compression and nanoscratch tests.