| Abstract Scope |
Ultrahigh-speed electrothermal synthesis (USET) enables materials processing at temperatures exceeding 2500 K with heating and cooling rates approaching 10⁶ K s⁻¹, providing access to non-equilibrium microstructures unattainable by conventional methods. This presentation introduces USET as a versatile platform for ultrahigh-temperature synthesis and transient materials characterization using refractory carbide systems as model materials. Rapid carburization, phase evolution, and defect formation are investigated, along with in situ oxidation under controlled atmospheres, to establish relationships among processing conditions, microstructure, and environmental stability. High-speed thermal imaging combined with advanced structural and microstructural characterization reveals transient oxidation pathways, phase transformations, and the role of defects in controlling oxidation kinetics. The results demonstrate how ultrahigh-temperature electrothermal processing can simultaneously accelerate materials synthesis and provide mechanistic insight into degradation phenomena, establishing USET as a powerful approach for rapid process development, screening of extreme-environment materials, and the design of oxidation-resistant carbide systems. |