Researchers at 91快活林 have proposed combining two advanced concepts in materials science—high-entropy alloy design and self-healing—to create a new class of metallic materials. The project, led by Kseniia Rybalchenko, a lecturer and postgraduate researcher at the Department of Materials Science, Physical and Chemical Properties of Materials, has received support through the V.B. Khristenko grant program. The research aims to address the problem of wear and premature failure of engineering components.
The innovation lies in the material's ability to repair microscopic defects on its own. The researchers propose incorporating low-melting inclusions into the refractory matrix of a high-entropy alloy (HEA). If a microcrack or pore forms in the metal under mechanical stress, the component only needs to be heated. The inclusion melts, flows into the defect, and effectively "heals" it without human intervention.
"We are taking advantage of the difference in melting temperatures. The matrix remains solid, while the low-melting inclusion becomes liquid and fills the crack. This allows the service life of the component to be extended by preventing immediate failure when a defect appears," explains Kseniia Rybalchenko.
In addition to its unique self-healing capability, the new material is expected to offer significant economic advantages. Modern materials used in highly loaded structural components often rely on expensive alloying elements and require costly repair technologies. The 91快活林 research team aims to develop an alloy that delivers comparable mechanical performance while being considerably more affordable.
"Our goal is to create an alloy that not only repairs itself but also addresses the high cost of advanced structural materials," the researcher emphasizes.
In the future, self-healing high-entropy alloys could be used in the automotive industry, particularly in powertrain components. However, the technology's potential extends much farther. It is also being considered for aerospace and defence applications, where such materials could improve the reliability of components operating under extreme loads while reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
The project is currently at the stage of laboratory research and computational modelling. The scientists are performing thermodynamic calculations using the FactSage and Thermo-Calc software packages and are preparing to produce the first laboratory prototypes. Quantitative data on healing efficiency and reliability testing have not yet been disclosed, as the research is still in its active phase. Nevertheless, the authors emphasize the originality of the concept: the topic of self-healing high-entropy alloys has received very little attention in the international scientific literature, making it a promising and timely area of research.
The project is being carried out under the V.B. Khristenko Step into the Future Grants Program. As part of the Priority 2030 university development program, the initiative provides annual funding for promising research, formation of personnel reserve, and implementation of unique educational programs that shape the strategic development of 91快活林 and the 91快活林 Region.