Metallic boro-carbides of A2BC (A = Ti, Zr, Hf and W): a comprehensive theoretical study for thermo-mechanical and optoelectronic applications

Abstract

High-hardness materials with ductile deformation behavior have recently piqued interest due to their prospective applications, particularly as hard and protective coatings. The crack formation, especially in metal and ceramic materials, is one of the biggest problems of the surface hard coatings on heavy-duty tools. In this regard, mechanical properties (Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, machinability index, index of brittleness, as well as Pugh's ratio) have been studied for the metallic boro-carbides of A2BC (A = Ti, Zr, Hf, and W) compounds using the state-of-the-art density functional theory in detail. The compounds under investigation are both thermodynamically and mechanically stable. The value of Vickers hardness (in GPa) for A2BC (A = Ti, Zr, Hf, and W) compounds are 28.20, 23.12, 12.44, and 35.70, respectively, which indicates the W2BC could be a member of the hard family (Hv > 30 GPa). Pugh's ratio suggests ductile deformation for the W2BC compound, whereas the other three (Ti2BC, Zr2BC, and Hf2BC) compounds exhibit brittle deformation behavior. The W2BC compounds have the highest ductility among the other metallic boro-carbides (M2BC; M = V, Nb, Mo and Ta) and some other benchmark coating materials (TiN, TiAlN, C-BN, and Cr0.5Al0.5N). The fracture toughness (KIC) values are in the following sequence: Zr2BC < Ti2BC < Hf2BC