Dual-Porosity (Ta0.2Nb0.2Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2)C High-Entropy Ceramics with High Compressive Strength and Low Thermal Conductivity Prepared by Pressureless Sintering

Porous (Ta0.2Nb0.2Ti0.2Zr0.2Hf0.2)C high-entropy ceramics (HEC) with a dual-porosity structure were fabricated by pressureless sintering using a mixture powder of ceramic precursor and SiO2microspheres. The carbothermal reduction in the ceramic precursor led to the formation of pores with sizes of 0.4–3 μm, while the addition of SiO2microspheres caused the appearance of pores with sizes of 20–50 μm. The porous HECs exhibit competitive thermal insulation (4.12–1.11 W·m−1k−1) and extraordinary compressive strength (133.1–41.9 MPa), which can be tailored by the porosity of the ceramics. The excellent properties are ascribed to the high-entropy effects and dual-porosity structures. The severe lattice distortions in the HECs lead to low intrinsic thermal conductivity and high compressive strength. The dual-porosity structure is efficient at phonon scattering and inhabiting crack propagations, which can further improve the thermal insulation and mechanical properties of the porous HECs.Keywords:high-entropy carbides;pressureless sintering;porous ceramics;thermal conductivity;compressive strength