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Ultra-high temperature ceramics for extreme environments

Nature Reviews Materials (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Modern demands in clean energy and space exploration require materials scientists to develop materials that perform in the most extreme conditions in our universe. Recent advances in hypersonic travel and nuclear technology have brought a family of refractory transition metal carbides, nitrides and diborides, known as ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) to the forefront. These materials have extremely high melting points (>4,000 °C), high thermal conductivity (>140 W m−1 K−1) and strong transition-metal-to-non-metal bonding (>600 GPa mechanical stiffness), which promise to enable their application in extreme environments. This Review covers the relation of metal–non-metal (M–X) chemistry to the high-temperature, thermal, mechanical and oxidation behaviour of UHTCs and discusses the effect of synthesis and potential additives on their properties. In addition, we present new areas of research, including advances in additive manufacturing, high-entropy compositions and 2D materials to improve the processing and performance of UHTCs. A focus on chemistry–synthesis–processing relationships will be key to enabling innovative designs to bring UHTCs to fruition as extreme environment materials.

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Fig. 1: Chemistry, definition and applications of UHTCs.
Fig. 2: Fundamental bonding and properties of diboride, nitride and carbide ultra-high temperature ceramics.
Fig. 3: High-temperature oxidation behaviour of UHTCs.
Fig. 4: Processing methods of UHTCs.
Fig. 5: Various reinforcing materials implemented in UHTC composite materials and their effect on properties.
Fig. 6: Future outlook for UHTC developments.

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Acknowledgements

B.C.W., S.K.N. and B.A. acknowledge the Office of Naval Research for funding their work under award number N00014-21-1-2799. B.C.W. acknowledges support for his PhD studies from the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship programme from the Army Research Office. The authors acknowledge Y. Im and A. Vorhees for their assistance with compilation of the mechanical properties/oxidation tables for UHTCs.

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Brian C. Wyatt, Srinivasa Kartik Nemani.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering and Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University−Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Brian C. Wyatt, Srinivasa Kartik Nemani & Babak Anasori

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA

    Gregory E. Hilmas

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Elizabeth J. Opila

  4. School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Babak Anasori

  5. School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Babak Anasori

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B.C.W., S.K.N. and B.A. researched data for the article and wrote it. All authors contributed substantially to discussion of the content and reviewed and/or edited the manuscript before submission.

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Wyatt, B.C., Nemani, S.K., Hilmas, G.E. et al. Ultra-high temperature ceramics for extreme environments. Nat Rev Mater (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-023-00619-0

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