Reaction mechanisms of (RE0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2Gd0.2)2Zr2O7 (RE = La or Yb) under CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2 (CMAS) attack

In this study, two high-entropy ceramics, namely (La0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2Gd0.2)2Zr2O7 (LaHZ) and (Nd0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2Gd0.2Yb0.2)2Zr2O7 (YbHZ), were prepared and investigated, in comparison to La2Zr2O7 (LZ). This investigation focused on their interactions with calcium-magnesium-alumina-silicate (CMAS), revealing noteworthy findings. High entropy samples particularly YbHZ exhibit significantly reduced infiltration depths compared to LZ. After CMAS corrosion, the reaction zones of LaHZ and LZ show a similar microstructure characterized by the presence of apatite and fluorite embedded in CMAS residue. In contrast, YbHZ forms a dense and nanoscale dual-phase zirconia (fluorite + pyrochlore) layer, with no visible CMAS residue. The different corrosion behavior is associated with the competition between fluorite and apatite phases, which is strongly related to the ionic radius of RE3+. Apart from the apatite, the formation of a dense and continuous fluorite Ca&RE-ZrO2 layer could also provide excellent CMAS resistance. These findings provide a viable strategy for designing CMAS-resistant materials.