| Abstract Scope |
Precise control of configurational entropy has opened new avenues to fine-tune material properties in multi-component entropy stabilized ceramics. However, factors such as heat-treatment and nucleation of secondary phases and their role on the mechanical properties including thermal characterization yields interesting results. We have performed controlled heat-treatment experiments of the multicomponent oxide system [(MgNiCoCuZn)O] and investigated the variation in the mechanical and thermal properties. The rationale in the observed variation of the properties are systematically understood using neutron diffraction, EELS spectroscopy, multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) on a STEM-EDX mapping and molecular dynamics simulation. Interestingly, it was observed that with decrease in Cu ion concentration in the matrix, the Young’s modulus and hardness increased remarkably while the coefficient of thermal expansion decreased. Similarly, an increased nucleation of CuO precipitates led to the improvement of fracture toughness of the material by 15%, while its thermal conductivity remained unaltered. |