Özkul, İskender; Güler, Ömer; Durmus, Hasan; Camgoz, Berkay; ALMisned, G.; Yaprak, Gunseli; Tekin, H.O.

This study examines how Er2O3 and B4C additions affect the structural, microstructural, mechanical, and gamma-ray attenuation behaviour of Ni–Co–Fe–Cr–Mo high-entropy alloy composites. Five samples, labelled S0–S4, were produced by vacuum arc melting with different single and combined reinforcement contents. Thermodynamic calculations showed that the metallic matrix meets the general conditions expected for solid-solution HEA formation. XRD results indicated that an FCC-based matrix remained dominant in all samples. Reflections related to Er2O3 were identified in the Er2O3-containing compositions, while several weak secondary reflections could not be assigned with certainty because of their low intensity and peak overlap. SEM-EDS analysis confirmed the presence of Er-, O-, B-, and C-containing regions and also revealed local compositional variations within the microstructure. The reinforcement additions produced a clear increase in microhardness, with the highest value of 693 ± 51 HV0.5 obtained for the hybrid-reinforced S3 sample. Gamma-ray attenuation was measured at 276, 302, 356, and 383 keV using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector under narrow-beam condition. S4 showed the lowest nominal transmission factor at most energies at its actual sample thickness. However, after correcting for thickness using the Beer-Lambert relationship, S2 generally showed the highest nominal linear attenuation coefficient, while S4 gave closely comparable values at several energies. Some of the differences between samples were within the propagated counting uncertainties and were therefore interpreted with caution. Overall, the results show that the composition giving the highest hardness does not necessarily provide the strongest thickness-normalized gamma-ray attenuation. The attenuation behaviour is influenced by several factors, including reinforcement composition, sample thickness, density, phase distribution, microstructural heterogeneity, and measurement uncertainty. These findings highlight the need to optimize reinforced HEA composites according to the specific mechanical and radiation-related property being targeted.

İncele

Güler, Ömer; Güler, Seval Hale; Özkul, İskender; ALMisned, Ghada; Baykal, Duygu Sen; Tekin, Huseyin Ozan

This study represents an initial investigation toward exploring the multifunctional potential of the (ErSmGdYPr)2Hf2O7 high-entropy oxide as a thermal barrier coating (TBC) material in radiation environments. Therefore, the evaluated parameters should be considered as a preliminary step rather than a complete representation of the material’s overall performance in such complex applications. In this context, (ErSmGdYPr)₂Hf2O7 powders were synthesized through high-energy ball milling of commercial rare-earth oxide precursors followed by calcination at different temperatures. Structural evolution during synthesis was investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and thermal analysis techniques. The results confirmed the formation of a defective fluorite-type high-entropy oxide structure after calcination at elevated temperatures, accompanied by homogeneous elemental distribution and stable ceramic microstructures. In addition to structural characterization, the radiation interaction behaviour of the synthesized material was evaluated through gamma-ray attenuation parameters and fast neutron removal cross-section analysis. The obtained results indicate that the presence of multiple rare-earth elements provides favorable interaction characteristics with both photons and fast neutrons. These findings highlight the potential of this high-entropy oxide as a precursor for multifunctional coating materials. However, it should be noted that this work represents a preliminary powder-level investigation, and further research on actual coating deposition and thermal testing is required to validate its service performance.

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Kalay, Ece; Güler, Seval Hale; Karaduman, Oktay; Şimşek, Telem; Bülbül, Zeynel Abidin; Aksu Canbay, Canan; Sen Baykal, Duygu; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

Rare-earth substitution provides a route for tailoring the structural, magnetic, and gamma-ray attenuation behaviour of Ho-based Co-Mn double perovskites; however, the combined effects of rare-earth ionic size, magnetic character, and substitution level remain insufficiently understood. In this study, Ho1.5La0.5CoMnO6, Ho1.2Er0.8CoMnO6, Ho1.3Sm0.7CoMnO6, and Ho2CoMnO6 were synthesized through a two-step route involving mechanical alloying to obtain precursor powders, followed by annealing at 1000 °C in air to promote oxidation and double-perovskite phase formation. Their structural, thermal, surface-chemical, magnetic, and gamma-ray attenuation properties were examined by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, SEM-EDS, vibrating-sample magnetometry, and theoretical shielding calculations based on half-value layer (HVL) and transmission factor (TF) parameters. The XRD patterns were consistent with predominantly monoclinic P21/n type double-perovskite structures, while weak additional reflections suggested possible minor secondary phases. SEM-EDS showed homogeneous elemental distributions, and XPS analysis indicated Co2+ dominated and mixed Mn-valence characteristics in the spectra where reliable component analysis was possible. All compositions exhibited a low-temperature ferromagnetic-like field response but did not reach magnetic saturation at 3 T. Ho2CoMnO6 and Ho1.3Sm0.7CoMnO6 showed the highest field-dependent magnetization values at 10 K, whereas Ho1.2Er0.8CoMnO6 displayed the lowest response. The theoretical gamma-ray attenuation calculations showed clear composition-dependent differences. At 0.662 MeV, the HVL values were 1.0650, 0.9972, 1.0438, and 0.9967 cm for Ho1.5La0.5CoMnO6, Ho1.2Er0.8CoMnO6, Ho1.3Sm0.7CoMnO6, and Ho2CoMnO6, respectively. At the same photon energy and a thickness of 1.0 cm, the corresponding TF values were 0.0896, 0.0858, 0.0882, and 0.0860. Thus, Ho1.2Er0.8CoMnO6 and Ho2CoMnO6 exhibited the lowest HVL and TF values among the investigated compositions. The shielding calculations identified Ho1.2Er0.8CoMnO6 and Ho2CoMnO6 as the most effective attenuators, with lower HVL and TF values across the investigated energy range. These results show that rare-earth substitution enables compositional tuning of magnetic and theoretical gamma-ray attenuation behaviour, with the observed trends reflecting the combined influence of rare-earth ionic size, magnetic character, substitution level, and valence-state complexity.

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Güler, Ömer; Kavaz, E.; Kalay, Ece; Güler, Seval Hale; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates three newly designed Ti-Zr-Hf-based high-entropy alloys such as TiZrHfGdSm (N1), TiZrHfEr (N2), and TiZrHfGdEuB (N3), with the aim of understanding how selected rare-earth and boron additions influence microstructural evolution and dual γ-ray/fast-neutron shielding performance. All alloys were synthesized by arc melting and evaluated through thermodynamic modelling, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with elemental mapping, and mixed-field attenuation measurements. The results show that each composition forms an HCP-type solid-solution matrix with composition-dependent lattice distortion and secondary phase formation. Among the studied systems, the Er-modified alloy N2 develops the most spatially uniform elemental distribution and demonstrates the most balanced combination of γ-ray attenuation, effective atomic number, buildup behaviour, and fast-neutron removal efficiency. N1 and N3, containing multiple rare-earth elements and, in the case of N3, boron-induced borides, exhibit distinct grain features and provide valuable insights into how multi-element additions shape photon and neutron interaction pathways. Comparative examination confirms that shielding performance in these HEAs is governed by the interplay of elemental cross sections, density, and microstructural uniformity. The findings highlight Ti-Zr-Hf-RE(B) alloys as promising platforms for multifunctional radiation-shielding materials and provide a compositional framework for future optimization in nuclear, medical, and aerospace applications.

AtıfScopus2·OpenAlex2

İncele

Gül, Ali Oktay; Gökhan Albayrak, M.; Güler, Ömer; Özkul, İskender; Baykal, Duygu Sen; Almisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study addresses a fundamental materials design question for radiation-resistant superalloys: whether rare-earth (RE) oxides are more effective when incorporated individually or when introduced collectively in a high-entropy rare-earth oxide (HE-RE2O3) form. In this context, Inconel 718 (IN718) composites were reinforced with single RE2O3 phases such as Sm2O3, Tm2O3, Er2O3, Yb2O3, Eu2O3, and La2O3 at 10 wt% and with a mechanically alloyed HE-RE2O3 phase at 1-20 wt%. Structural analyses confirmed the formation of a single-phase HE-RE2O3 with a cubic bixbyite structure and its stable integration into the IN718 matrix. Gamma-ray shielding properties were systematically evaluated over a wide photon energy range. The HE-RE2O3 reinforced samples, particularly at higher loadings, exhibited consistently higher mass and linear attenuation coefficients, elevated effective atomic numbers, reduced half-value layers, and lower buildup factors compared to both the base alloy and single-oxide reinforced counterparts, demonstrating a clear collective attenuation effect. Fast neutron removal cross sections showed more moderate variations, reflecting the dominance of neutron scattering and mass-dependent interaction mechanisms rather than atomic number effects. It can be concluded that incorporating RE elements through a high-entropy oxide configuration provides a more effective and collective compositional contribution for enhancing the radiation shielding performance of IN718 than adding RE oxides individually, offering a promising pathway for advanced nuclear and radiation-relevant applications.

AtıfScopus1·OpenAlex1

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Güler, Ömer; Camgoz, Berkay; ALMisned, Ghada; Yaprak, Gunseli; Tekin, H.O.; Durmus, Hasan

This study investigates the structural, mechanical, and experimental gamma-ray attenuation properties of Fe-Co-Ni-Cr-W high-entropy alloy (HEA) composites reinforced with varying concentrations of Dy2O3 and B4C. A series of samples (S0-S4) was synthesized via vacuum arc melting to evaluate the synergistic effects of rare-earth oxide and carbide additions on a stable multi-component matrix. Thermodynamic assessments confirmed that the base alloy aligns with solid-solution formation criteria (1.61R configurational entropy, Ω = 10.33), which was experimentally validated by XRD patterns revealing a consistent FCC crystal structure across all compositions. SEM-EDS mapping further verified the successful integration of reinforcements as discrete secondary phases within the HEA matrix. Mechanical characterization showed that ceramic incorporation significantly enhances the hardness of the monolithic HEA, with the hybrid-reinforced S3 sample achieving a peak value of 628 HV. This improvement is attributed to the combined effects of oxide dispersion strengthening and microstructural refinement induced by B4C. Experimental gamma-ray transmission tests, conducted using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector in the 276-383 keV energy range, demonstrated that the S3 configuration provides the most efficient shielding performance, characterized by the lowest transmission factors. Interestingly, the results suggest that beyond an optimal threshold, increased reinforcement loading, as seen in S4 sample, may lead to minor performance trade-offs due to phase distribution dynamics. The findings highlight that the development of multifunctional HEA-based shields requires a delicate balance between reinforcement volume fraction and microstructural homogeneity to maximize both structural and shielding efficiency.

AtıfOpenAlex1

İncele

Güler, Ömer; Güler, Seval Hale; Özkul, İskender; ALMisned, Ghada; Sen Baykal, Duygu; Tekin, H.O.

Spinel high-entropy oxides (HEOs) can stabilize multiple transition-metal cations within a single lattice, yet their radiation-interaction behavior is scarcely explored. Here, a (FeNiCoCrMn)3O4 spinel HEO was produced via an alloy-to-oxide route: 40 h mechanical alloying of equiatomic FeNiCoCrMn powders followed by mechano-oxidation (1000 °C/3 h) and high-energy grinding. HEA-derived thermodynamic metrics were used to rationalize the stability of the equiatomic metallic precursor prior to mechano-oxidation, rather than to directly predict the formation of the final oxide phase. XRD evidenced progressive amorphization of the HEA and its conversion to a crystalline spinel oxide, while SEM–EDS confirmed homogeneous elemental distribution. XPS indicated a defect-rich, multivalent surface (Co2+/Co3+, Cr3+/Cr6+, Fe3+, mixed Mn states, Ni2+) with lattice oxygen and vacancy-related components. Moreover, the spinel oxide showed higher linear attenuation coefficients than 316L stainless steel, Inconel-718, and several lightweight Al-based entropy alloys, yielding lower HVL values, especially at low energies. Zeff exhibited the expected energy dependence and exceeded Al-dominant alloys across the spectrum. EBF/EABF at 1 and 40 mfp displayed Compton-region peaks and strong depth effects, consistent with attenuation behavior. It can be concluded that a (FeNiCoCrMn)3O4 spinel high-entropy oxide, produced via an alloy-to-oxide transformation route, exhibits structurally stable and compositionally homogeneous characteristics together with favorable gamma-ray attenuation behavior.

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Kalay, Ece; Güler, Ömer; Karaduman, Oktay; Canbay, Canan Aksu; Hameed, Louis Ibrahim; Almisned, Ghada; Baykal, Duygu Sen; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the effect of 1 at.% rare-earth (RE = Sm, Gd, Dy) addition on the structural, mechanical, magnetic, and radiation shielding properties of CoFeNiMnTi high-entropy alloys produced by arc melting. X-ray diffraction results reveal an FCC-dominant structure accompanied by secondary Laves-type phases, with increased phase complexity observed in Gd- and Dy-containing alloys. Mechanical evaluation shows a significant hardness enhancement, reaching 581 HV for Gd and 548 HV for Dy, compared to 447 HV for the reference alloy. Magnetic measurements indicate soft-ferromagnetic behaviour for all compositions, with magnetization increasing in the order S0<S1<S2<S3, highlighting the strong influence of Dy on magnetic response. Elemental mapping confirms a homogeneous distribution with minor local compositional variations contributing to phase evolution. Thermodynamic analysis suggests that rare-earth addition increases lattice distortion and chemical complexity without strongly differentiating among RE types. In terms of radiation shielding, linear attenuation coefficients and effective atomic number values demonstrate improved gamma-ray attenuation, particularly at low energies, with Dy exhibiting the highest performance. In contrast, fast neutron removal cross section values remain nearly unchanged, indicating limited sensitivity to dilute RE addition. It can be concluded that the incorporation of Dy results in the most balanced multifunctional performance, whereas Gd primarily enhances mechanical strength, emphasizing the importance of rare-earth selection in the design of high-entropy alloys for radiation-related applications.

İncele

Durmus, Hasan; Özkul, İskender; Güler, Ömer; Güler, Seval Hale; Baykal, Duygu Sen; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

In this study, a novel high-entropy rare-earth tungstate, (PrEuYLaSm)2(WO4)3, was synthesized by high-energy ball milling followed by calcination, and its structural, microstructural, thermal, gamma-ray, and neutron shielding properties were systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction results revealed that ball milling induced partial amorphization of the initial oxide mixture, while calcination at 1100 °C promoted the formation of a single-phase monoclinic A2W3O12-type structure without detectable secondary phases. SEM-EDS mapping showed the homogeneous distribution of Pr, Eu, Y, La, Sm, W, and O throughout the synthesized material. Differential thermal analysis showed sequential desorption, crystallization, and structural ordering processes, together with the absence of sharp decomposition up to 1100 °C, indicating good thermal stability. Radiation shielding evaluation demonstrated that the synthesized high-entropy tungstate exhibited strong gamma-ray attenuation performance, with high mass attenuation coefficient values, low half-value layer values, and stable effective atomic number behaviour over a wide photon energy range. Although some individual oxides showed superior performance at specific energies, the high-entropy composition provided a more balanced shielding response overall. In neutron shielding, the material showed competitive fast neutron removal capability among oxide systems. It can be concluded that the multifunctional potential of (PrEuYLaSm)2(WO4)3 for competitive high-temperature and radiation shielding applications.

İncele

Güler, Ömer; Güler, Seval Hale; Özkul, İskender; Baykal, Duygu Sen; Tekin, H.O.; ALMisned, Ghada

A spinel-structured high-entropy alloy-oxide (HEAO) with the nominal composition (Fe30Cr30Mn20Ni10V10)3O4 was synthesized via mechanical alloying followed by thermo-mechanical oxidation X-ray diffraction indicated the formation of a predominantly spinel-type cubic oxide phase after oxidation, with the observed reflections being consistent with the Fd-3m spinel structure, while SEM-EDS mapping showed a homogeneous cation distribution at the examined scale. XPS analysis revealed mixed valence states of Fe2+/Fe3+, Cr3+/Cr4+, Mn3+/Mn4+, Ni2+/Ni3+, and V4+/V5+. Thermodynamic parameters supported phase stability, with ΔSmix = 12.51 J K−1·mol−1 and Ω = 2.68. Gamma-ray attenuation properties were evaluated over 0.015-15 MeV. The linear attenuation coefficient decreased from 193.685 cm−1 at 0.015 MeV to 0.309 cm−1 at 1 MeV and stabilized near 0.137 cm−1 at 15 MeV. Correspondingly, the half value layer increased from 0.004 cm to 5.068 cm across the same energy range. The effective atomic number decreased from 24.58 at 0.015 MeV to approximately 15.37 at 1 MeV, followed by a moderate increase to 17.71 at 15 MeV. Comparative analysis with commercial stainless steel, titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, ferro-boron systems, and lightweight entropy alloys demonstrated that the synthesized HEAO exhibits intermediate yet stable attenuation performance, positioning it between low-density Al-based systems and high-density Ni-rich alloys. It can be concluded that the alloy-to-oxide strategy enables the production of a structurally stable spinel HEAO with consistent and competitive gamma-ray attenuation behaviour across a broad photon energy spectrum.

AtıfScopus1·OpenAlex1

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Kalay, Ece; Guler, Omer; Aksu Canbay, Canan

Half-metallic Heusler alloys are promising materials for spintronic and thermoelectric applications. These alloys exhibit metallic conductivity in one spin direction while acting as insulators in the opposite spin direction, enabling nearly 100% spin polarization. This property is crucial for spintronic devices such as magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), magnetic random-access memories, and spin-based transistors. This study investigates the electronic, magnetic, and structural properties of Heusler alloys, focusing on their synthesis methods, atomic ordering, and modelling via density functional theory (DFT). DFT-based calculations serve as a key tool for predicting band structures, spin polarization, and magnetic properties. Additionally, the effects of disorder, strain, and compositional changes on material properties are analysed to explore performance optimization strategies. The potential applications of Heusler alloys in spintronic memory devices, thermoelectric energy conversion, and quantum technologies are also discussed. This work is presented as a review article and systematically compiles and interprets findings from the existing literature to provide a broad understanding of the topic. By integrating theoretical and experimental approaches, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the role of these materials in advanced technological applications.

İncele

Güler, Ömer; Özkul, İskender; Almisned, Ghada; Sen Baykal, Duygu; Alkarrani, Hessa; Kilic, G.; Mesbahi, A.; Tekin, H.O.

This study explores the development and characterization of 18 novel ZrWNb[(X)(Y)] (where XY are Hf, Ta, Mo, V, Ti) refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) designed to enhance mechanical robustness, thermodynamic stability, and radiation shielding effectiveness. Through a rigorous analysis, we evaluated the elastic modulus, entropy, and enthalpy of mixing, atomic size difference, valence electron concentration, and the omega parameter to understand the alloys’ phase behavior and structural integrity. Our findings revealed a broad range of elastic modulus values, indicating diverse mechanical adaptability suitable for high-stress applications. The thermodynamic assessment highlighted several RHEAs with favorable phase stability, particularly ZrWNbTaHf and ZrWNbTiTaHf, which are poised for high-performance usage due to their balanced mixing entropy and enthalpy. This study also benchmarks the RHEAs against conventional alloys, with sample R1 exhibiting the lowest fast neutron effective removal cross section, underscoring its superior neutron shielding capabilities. Additionally, R1 demonstrated exceptional photon attenuation, as evidenced by its competitive half-value layer performance across an extensive energy spectrum. Collectively, these results position R1 as a standout candidate, offering a significant advancement in materials science for applications demanding stringent radiation shielding, such as in nuclear reactor environments and space exploration.

AtıfScopus4·OpenAlex5

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Karaduman, Oktay; Şimşek, Tuncay; Şimşek, Telem; Canbay, Canan Aksu; Güler, Ömer; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study systematically investigates the influence of Cr and Mn additions on the structural, magnetic, and radiation shielding properties of NiFeGaCo-based ferromagnetic high-entropy shape memory alloys (FHESMAs) synthesized via the arc melting method. The fabricated NiFeGaCo, NiFeGaCoCr, and NiFeGaCoMn alloys were comprehensively characterized in terms of their phase formation, microstructure, martensitic transformation behavior, and magnetic performance. The results demonstrated that Mn addition significantly improved the magnetic properties, yielding the highest saturation magnetization (56.64 emu/g) and lowest coercivity (5.55 Oe), making NiFeGaCoMn highly suitable for soft magnetic applications. In contrast, Cr addition provided moderate magnetic behavior but enhanced structural stability with the largest crystallite size and lowest lattice strain. Moreover, gamma-ray and fast neutron shielding investigations revealed that the Cr-containing alloy exhibited superior performance in terms of linear attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, effective electron density, and fast neutron removal cross-section values, while Mn addition slightly reduced these shielding capabilities. It can be concluded that Cr addition offers a balanced advantage in designing FHESMAs with combined magnetic sensitivity and radiation shielding efficiency, whereas Mn addition is more effective for maximizing magnetic performance with a compromise in shielding characteristics.

AtıfScopus2·OpenAlex2

İncele

Tekin, H.O.; Güler, Ömer; Özkul, İskender; AlMisned, Ghada; Baykal, Duygu Sen; Alkarrani, Hessa; Kilic, G.; Mesbahi, A.

High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) hold considerable potential for sophisticated nuclear applications, offering a vast spectrum of compositional tuning to enhance mechanical properties at high temperatures, as well as to increase resistance to radiation and corrosion. This study explores the suitability of Cantor HEAs, specifically the CoCrFeMnNi matrix enriched with elements such as Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, and W, for nuclear applications. These elements were selected for their high atomic numbers and neutron capture cross-sections, vital for enhancing gamma-ray and neutron shielding properties. Utilizing advanced computational and theoretical methods, the elastic modulus of these alloys was theoretically estimated while their radiation attenuation capabilities were evaluated through different Monte Carlo simulation codes. CoCrFeMnNiW demonstrated the highest elastic modulus (340.9 GPa), indicating significant mechanical robustness. The addition of W resulted in superior gamma-ray attenuation, with the lowest gamma-ray transmission factors and highest neutron shielding effectiveness among the studied alloys. The calculated mass attenuation coefficients and effective removal cross-sections values demonstrate the potential of these HEAs to provide effective radiation shielding. Our results showed a clear correlation between the elastic modulus and radiation attenuation properties, suggesting that mechanical stiffness does not compromise shielding capabilities. The comprehensive analysis of thermodynamic and structural parameters, including entropy of mixing, mixing enthalpy, and Valence Electron Concentration (VEC), provided essential insights into phase stability and microstructural characteristics. It can be concluded that CoCrFeMnNiW and its related Cantor HEAs as promising materials for advancing nuclear technology, offering a new horizon for safer and more efficient nuclear systems.

AtıfScopus9·OpenAlex13

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Kalay, Ece; Karaduman, Oktay; Kizilgün, Yasİn; Güler, Ömer; Canbay, Canan Aksu

This study investigates the effects of different cerium additions on the properties of Cu-Al-Mn high-temperature shape memory alloy (HTSMA), such as the characteristic martensitic transformation temperatures, transformational kinetic parameters, and martensitic microstructures which are related to its shape memory mechanism and also to its magnetic behavior. Polycrystalline alloys with a base composition of Cu77.32Al21.02Mn1.67 (at.%) were synthesized, and varying concentrations of cerium (Ce-1 to Ce-4) were added for comparison. Differential scanning calorimetry tests revealed notable increments in transformation temperatures with cerium additions. Specifically, the austenite start temperature of the reference alloy increased from 143.75 °C to 194.88 °C by 0.05 at.% of Ce addition (Ce-3 alloy), corresponding to the formation of CeCu5 and Mn1.15Cu3.85Ce phases. However, excessive Ce addition in Ce-4 led to the over-stabilization of secondary phases, reducing the transformation temperatures. Microstructural analysis indicated that Ce addition of refined grains changed the crystallite size of the martensite structure and reduced lattice strain (from 0.72% to 0.34%). Magnetic characterization demonstrated that Ce addition shifted the alloy towards paramagnetic behavior, with M-H curves showing no significant coercive field or remanent magnetization across the studied alloy samples. These findings suggest that cerium can enhance the high-temperature performance of Cu-Al-Mn HTSMAs, with potential applications in environments requiring both shape memory and magnetic properties.

AtıfScopus3·WoS3

İncele

ALMisned, Ghada; Güler, Ömer; Özkul, İskender; Baykal, Duygu Sen; Alkarrani, Hessa; Kilic, G.; Mesbahi, A.; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the radiation shielding properties of aluminum-based superalloy high-entropy alloys (HEAs) for potential use in advanced nuclear reactor applications. These HEAs, composed of five or more metals in equimolar or near-equimolar ratios, were evaluated for their thermodynamic stability, mechanical strength, and radiation attenuation capabilities. Key parameters such as entropy of mixing (ΔSmix), enthalpy of mixing (ΔHmix), valence electron concentration (VEC), and atomic size difference (δ) were analyzed. Radiation shielding properties, including mass attenuation coefficients (MAC), half-value layer (HVL), effective atomic number (Zeff), and exposure buildup factor (EBF), were assessed using various simulations. Alloy 12, with its superior MAC, lowest HVL, and high ΣR value, demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in gamma and neutron attenuation. These findings underscore the potential of aluminum-based HEAs, particularly Alloy 12, to enhance the operational capabilities and longevity of nuclear reactors, paving the way for the development of next-generation materials for high-radiation environments.

İncele

Kalay, Ece; Özkul, İskender; Karaduman, Oktay; Kızılgün, Yasin; Güler, Ömer; Canbay, Canan Aksu; Kilic, G.; Baykal, Duygu Sen; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study systematically investigates the effect of Ce addition on the thermal, structural, and radiation shielding properties of CuAlMn-based high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs). Among the different compositions, Ce-III demonstrated the most balanced performance, exhibiting optimized phase transformation behavior, microstructural refinement, and enhanced gamma-ray attenuation. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that Ce-III exhibited lower transformation temperatures, with austenite start (As) and finish (Af) temperatures of 378.13 °C and 429.75 °C, respectively, and martensite start (Ms) and finish (Mf) temperatures of 402.52 °C and 341.91 °C, suggesting improved thermal stability. Microstructural analysis indicated significant grain refinement, attributed to Ce's dislocation pinning effect, which contributed to enhanced strength and radiation attenuation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the formation of Ce-rich intermetallic phases, such as Mn1.15Cu3.85Ce and Cu8Ce4, which increased density and photon interaction probability. The Ce-III alloy exhibited superior linear attenuation coefficients and reduced half-value layer, reinforcing its effectiveness as a radiation shielding material. It can be concluded that Ce-III represents an optimal composition with a synergistic combination of structural stability, phase transformation control, and enhanced radiation shielding capabilities, making it a promising candidate for nuclear and high-radiation applications.

AtıfOpenAlex1

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Karaduman, Oktay; Şimşek, Tuncay; Şimşek, Telem; Canbay, Canan Aksu; Güler, Ömer; ALMisned, Ghada; Baykal, Duygu Sen; Tekin, Huseyin Ozan

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a novel class of materials known for their complex compositions and exceptional multifunctional properties. In this study, NiCoMnTi-based HEAs were modified with Fe, Cr, and Cu as fifth elements to systematically investigate their structural, magnetic, thermodynamic, and nuclear radiation shielding characteristics. The alloys were synthesized via arc melting and characterized using XRD, SEM-EDS, VSM, and theoretical modeling methods. The findings reveal that each additional element uniquely alters the alloy’s properties. The Fe-containing alloy exhibited a well-defined lamellar microstructure, the highest saturation magnetization (10.79 emu/g), and a Curie temperature near 450 K, along with strong gamma-ray shielding performance across both low and high energy ranges. The Cr-containing alloy demonstrated soft magnetic behavior, featuring the lowest coercivity (29.64 Oe) and the highest fast neutron removal cross-section. In contrast, the Cu-containing alloy enhanced low-energy photon attenuation due to its higher atomic number but exhibited limited magnetic homogeneity. Despite these differences, all samples displayed stable thermodynamic behavior and comparable buildup factor trends. Overall, the addition of Fe led to a synergistic improvement in both magnetic and radiation shielding capabilities of the NiCoMnTi-based HEA system.

AtıfScopus3·OpenAlex3

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Karaduman, Oktay; Şimşek, Telem; Şimşek, Tuncay; Canbay, Canan Aksu; Güler, Ömer; Şan, Mert Hüseyin; ALMisned, Ghada; Tekin, H.O.

This study investigates the thermal, structural, magnetic, and radiation shielding properties of CuAlNi-based high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs) enhanced through sequential alloying with Co, Fe, Mn, and Cr. Five different variants were produced, designated as CRef (reference CuAlNi alloy), CCo (CuAlNiCo), CFe (CuAlNiCoFe), CMn (CuAlNiCoFeMn), and CCr (CuAlNiCoFeMnCr). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed the presence of reversible martensitic transformations in all alloys, with Co and Mn additions significantly enhancing thermal stability. Structural analyses using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microscopy showed significant grain refinement and phase transitions, while magnetic measurements highlighted the strong ferromagnetic response of CCo (CuAlNiCo) and the increased coercivity of CMn (CuAlNiCoFeMn) due to domain-pinning effects. Moreover, radiation shielding analyses demonstrated the critical influence of density and elemental composition, with CRef exhibiting superior linear attenuation coefficients (LAC), effective atomic number (Zeff), and energy absorption buildup factor (EBF) performance, attributed to its optimized Cu fraction and high density (7.1296 g/cm3). In contrast, CMn (CuAlNiCoFeMn) showed the weakest shielding properties due to reduced density and Mn content. Among the samples, CRef emerged as the superior alloy, demonstrating exceptional multifunctionality across all evaluated parameters, while CCr (CuAlNiCoFeMnCr) displayed synergistic properties, combining shape memory behavior with competitive shielding efficiency. It can be concluded that CuAlNi-based HTSMAs hold significant potential as multifunctional materials, particularly for nuclear safety and aerospace engineering applications, where adaptive functionality and radiation protection are critical.

AtıfScopus2·OpenAlex2

İncele

Özkul, İskender; Karaduman, Oktay; Canbay, Canan Aksu

CuAlMn alloys are cheaper and more promising alloy types compared to NiTi alloys. In this study, based on CuAlMn shape memory alloy, thermodynamic and structural characteristics of some new alloys containing four elements were investigated in detail. In this study, five new quaternary shape memory alloys, each containing a CuAlMn base alloy and a different fourth additive element (Ga, Nb, V, Zr, and Cr), were produced. The properties of the obtained alloys were characterized using a series of analysis methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results showed the effects of different elements on the crystal structures of the alloys and how different elements could change the thermal behavior of the alloys.

AtıfScopus4·WoS3·OpenAlex6

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