Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative study

In this study, high-entropy (Hf, Ta, Ti, V, Zr)- nitride, -carbide, and -diboride thin films were synthesized via magnetron sputtering and implanted with helium ions using a helium ion microscope. All films exhibited a stable single-phase structure, with no amorphization observed even at high ion fl...

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Main Authors: T. Astecker, P. Hosemann, M. Balooch, A.N. Lee, M.L. Crespillo, K. Hattar, M.O. Liedke, A. Wagner, P. Polcik, A. Kirnbauer, P.H. Mayrhofer
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Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525006434
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author T. Astecker
P. Hosemann
M. Balooch
A.N. Lee
M.L. Crespillo
K. Hattar
M.O. Liedke
A. Wagner
P. Polcik
A. Kirnbauer
P.H. Mayrhofer
author_facet T. Astecker
P. Hosemann
M. Balooch
A.N. Lee
M.L. Crespillo
K. Hattar
M.O. Liedke
A. Wagner
P. Polcik
A. Kirnbauer
P.H. Mayrhofer
author_sort T. Astecker
collection DOAJ
description In this study, high-entropy (Hf, Ta, Ti, V, Zr)- nitride, -carbide, and -diboride thin films were synthesized via magnetron sputtering and implanted with helium ions using a helium ion microscope. All films exhibited a stable single-phase structure, with no amorphization observed even at high ion fluences. At a helium ion dose of 5 × 1017 ions/cm2, volumetric swelling was 15.1 ± 0.8 % for the carbide, comparable to that of tungsten, but lower for the nitride (10.7 ± 1.2 %) and diboride (11.7 ± 0.5 %). Initial hardness values were 26.9 ± 1.3 GPa for the nitride, 32.4 ± 1.5 GPa for the carbide, and 38.9 ± 0.7 GPa for the diboride, where the strongest decrease upon irradiation was observed for the carbide (ΔH = -38 ± 7 % at 5 × 1017 ions/cm2). Compression testing revealed that, despite its brittle nature, the diboride exhibited measurable plasticity after irradiation. Fracture toughness tests revealed KIC values of 2.83 ± 0.21 MPa√m for the nitride, 2.48 ± 0.07 MPa√m for the carbide, and 3.47 ± 0.14 MPa√m for the diboride. The carbide’s low fracture toughness likely contributes to its higher mechanical degradation, attributed to inter-void fracture mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-dedc4c5ac26b4d8bb19e82a4fcfd6d912025-08-20T03:24:29ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-08-0125611422310.1016/j.matdes.2025.114223Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative studyT. Astecker0P. Hosemann1M. Balooch2A.N. Lee3M.L. Crespillo4K. Hattar5M.O. Liedke6A. Wagner7P. Polcik8A. Kirnbauer9P.H. Mayrhofer10Institute of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of Materials Science, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, Austria; Corresponding author.Department of Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Materials Research Group, University of California, 4105 Etcheverry Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States; Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of California, 210 Hearst Memorial Mining Building, Berkeley, CA 94720-1760, United States; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, 6141 Etcheverry Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1740, United StatesDepartment of Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Materials Research Group, University of California, 4105 Etcheverry Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, United StatesDepartment of Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Materials Research Group, University of California, 4105 Etcheverry Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, United StatesDepartment of Nuclear Engineering, Tennessee Ion Beam Materials Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 340 Zeanah Engineering Complex, TN 37996, United StatesDepartment of Nuclear Engineering, Tennessee Ion Beam Materials Laboratory, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 340 Zeanah Engineering Complex, TN 37996, United StatesInstitute of Radiation Physics, Helmholz Zentrum Dresden, Rossendorf Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, GermanyInstitute of Radiation Physics, Helmholz Zentrum Dresden, Rossendorf Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, GermanyPlansee Composite Materials GmbH, Siebenbürgerstraße 23, 86983 Lechbruck am See, GermanyInstitute of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of Materials Science, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Materials Science and Technology, Research Unit of Materials Science, TU Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, 1060 Vienna, AustriaIn this study, high-entropy (Hf, Ta, Ti, V, Zr)- nitride, -carbide, and -diboride thin films were synthesized via magnetron sputtering and implanted with helium ions using a helium ion microscope. All films exhibited a stable single-phase structure, with no amorphization observed even at high ion fluences. At a helium ion dose of 5 × 1017 ions/cm2, volumetric swelling was 15.1 ± 0.8 % for the carbide, comparable to that of tungsten, but lower for the nitride (10.7 ± 1.2 %) and diboride (11.7 ± 0.5 %). Initial hardness values were 26.9 ± 1.3 GPa for the nitride, 32.4 ± 1.5 GPa for the carbide, and 38.9 ± 0.7 GPa for the diboride, where the strongest decrease upon irradiation was observed for the carbide (ΔH = -38 ± 7 % at 5 × 1017 ions/cm2). Compression testing revealed that, despite its brittle nature, the diboride exhibited measurable plasticity after irradiation. Fracture toughness tests revealed KIC values of 2.83 ± 0.21 MPa√m for the nitride, 2.48 ± 0.07 MPa√m for the carbide, and 3.47 ± 0.14 MPa√m for the diboride. The carbide’s low fracture toughness likely contributes to its higher mechanical degradation, attributed to inter-void fracture mechanisms.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525006434Helium implantationCoatingsHigh-entropy alloysMicrostructureMechanical properties
spellingShingle T. Astecker
P. Hosemann
M. Balooch
A.N. Lee
M.L. Crespillo
K. Hattar
M.O. Liedke
A. Wagner
P. Polcik
A. Kirnbauer
P.H. Mayrhofer
Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative study
Materials & Design
Helium implantation
Coatings
High-entropy alloys
Microstructure
Mechanical properties
title Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative study
title_full Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative study
title_fullStr Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative study
title_full_unstemmed Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative study
title_short Influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high-entropy (Hf,Ta,Ti,V,Zr)-nitride, -carbide and -diboride thin films: A comparative study
title_sort influence of helium ion irradiation on the mechanical properties of high entropy hf ta ti v zr nitride carbide and diboride thin films a comparative study
topic Helium implantation
Coatings
High-entropy alloys
Microstructure
Mechanical properties
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525006434
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