This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Materials Research, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), provides $566,234 to the University of Alabama at Birmingham from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2025. The grant supports research investigating a novel approach for synthesizing high-entropy transition metal borides using microwave-induced plasma. This non-conventional process is expected to offer advantages over traditional convection-based methods such as enhanced diffusion, reduced energy consumption and processing times, decreased sintering temperatures, and improved material properties. The university researchers will study the kinetics and reaction pathways leading to phase transformation via plasma-assisted synthesis. They will also characterize the resulting materials' structures, hardness, and oxidation resistance. Computational modeling will guide composition selection and predict mechanical and corrosion properties. Outcomes include new understanding of how microwave plasmas influence reaction pathways and development of models validated by experimental data.
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