Phys.org  May 8, 2024 While investigating a three-phase multicomponent ceramic consisting of Hf-rich carbide, Nb-rich carbide, and Zr-rich silicide phases, an international team of researchers (Germany, China) discovered solid-state reaction process among multiphase multicomponent ceramic during ablation. They found that this solid-state reaction occurred in the matrix/oxide scale interface region where metal cations were counter-diffused between the multicomponent phases resulting in their composition evolution, which allowed the multicomponent phases to exist stably under a higher oxygen partial pressure, leading to the improvement of thermodynamic stability of three-phase multicomponent ceramic. The solid-state reaction process appeared synergistic with the preferential oxidation behavior […]