Dual-phase high-entropy carbide/boride ceramics with excellent tribological properties

Tribological characteristics of fine-grained dual-phase high-entropy carbide/boride ceramics were investigated using the ball-on-flat dry sliding method in air, applying linear reciprocation motion with SiC counterpart. Detailed fractographical analyses were used for the characterization of the deformation and damage mechanisms. The investigated system with composition (Ti0.14Zr0.2Nb0.2Hf0.2Ta0.26)C + (Ti0.38Zr0.18Nb0.22Hf0.115Ta0.105)B2 showed density with value 8.72 g/cm3 and very high hardness of HV1 29.4 ± 2.0 GPa. The friction coefficient at the test with 5 N was 0.56 and during the test with 10 N and 25 N loads were 0.48 and 0.5, respectively. The effective wear rates at the loads of 5 N and 25 N were very similar with values of 7.93 × 10−7 mm3/Nm and 6.63 × 10−7 mm3/Nm. At load 50 N the effective wear rate is significantly higher with a value of 9.11 × 10−6 mm3/Nm. Detailed fractography revealed that the dominant wear mechanisms at loads of 5 N and 25 N were an oxidation-driven tribochemical reaction and tribo-layer formation in boride grains and mechanical wear in carbide grains and at the load of 50 N fracture of boride and carbide grains and formation of chemically complex tribolayers.