@article{Song2026, 
author = {Jingwen Song and Mingliang Li and Hailong Wang and Pengbo Zhao and Ziqi Zhao and Wei Li and Kehao Zhang and Kai Zhang and Rui Zhang},
title = {Reactive-precursor-assisted low-temperature densification of high-entropy (TiVNbTaMo)Cx ceramics with tunable mechanical and tribological properties},
year = {2026},
journal = {Journal of Advanced Ceramics},
volume = {15},
number = {3},
pages = {9221242},
keywords = {high-entropy carbide ceramics (HECCs), Ti3AlC2, in situ reaction, low-temperature densification, mechanical properties, tribological behavior},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/JAC.2026.9221242},
doi = {10.26599/JAC.2026.9221242},
abstract = {The preparation of dense high-entropy carbide ceramics (HECCs) is extremely challenging owing to their strong covalent bonding and sluggish diffusion associated with high-entropy effects, which necessitate ultrahigh sintering temperatures that in turn cause severe grain coarsening and excessive energy consumption. In this study, a novel low-temperature consolidation route is developed based on Ti3AlC2 reactive sintering. Specifically, the reactive precursor Ti3AlC2 decomposes into TiCx and Al during spark plasma sintering. The in situ formed TiCx accelerates interdiffusion and solid-solution formation among transition-metal carbides, while the released Al effectively activates particle interfaces. This dual-activation mechanism markedly enhances sintering kinetics, enabling the densification of (TiVNbTaMo)Cx ceramics at 1550 °C. The optimized sample achieved a relative density of 98.5%, a Vickers hardness of 22.94 GPa under a load of 9.8 N, a flexural strength of 1018 MPa, and a fracture toughness of 5.67 MPa·m1/2, showing superior strength and hardness compared with most reported high-entropy carbides while maintaining an acceptable level of toughness. Furthermore, the interfacial modification results in a stable friction coefficient from room temperature to 900 °C, accompanied by nonadhesive wear behavior at elevated temperatures, making the obtained samples promising for high-temperature structural and wear-resistant applications. Therefore, reactive-Ti3AlC2 precursor-assisted sintering provides a new pathway for the design and scalable fabrication of advanced dense high-entropy ceramics under low-temperature conditions.}
}