Deep Learning-Assisted Material Design and Laser Direct Additive Manufacturing of a Metal Ceramic Composite that Transforms into Ceramic at High Temperatures

Ding Yuan; Zhizhou Zhang; Wei Guo; Chao Wei; Xiaojing Sun; Jiahua Wang; Zeng Zhang; Junyao Zhang; Dongxu Cheng; Zhu Liu; Paul Mativeng; Lin Li

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.027

Engineering ›› :202601027 DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.027

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Deep Learning-Assisted Material Design and Laser Direct Additive Manufacturing of a Metal Ceramic Composite that Transforms into Ceramic at High Temperatures

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Abstract

A new Hf-Zr-C-based metal ceramic composite capable of transforming into a ceramic at high temperatures was developed using deep learning (DL)-assisted materials design, with screening performed across approximately 20 million compositions. Components were directly fabricated from mixed powders by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The as-fabricated material exhibited high fracture toughness (6.32 MPa·m 1/2), low thermal conductivity (6.34 W·m-1 ·K-1), and good room-temperature machinability, properties not achievable in traditional carbides. At elevated temperatures, the material transformed into a single-phase ceramic through solid-phase diffusion, with a measured melting point of (4181 ± 85) K. This study demonstrates a viable route for the design and direct additive manufacturing of refractory ceramic components from multi-powder systems.

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Ultra-high temperature / Deep learning / Laser / Additive manufacturing / Phase transformation / Extreme properties

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Ding Yuan, Zhizhou Zhang, Wei Guo, Chao Wei, Xiaojing Sun, Jiahua Wang, Zeng Zhang, Junyao Zhang, Dongxu Cheng, Zhu Liu, Paul Mativeng, Lin Li. Deep Learning-Assisted Material Design and Laser Direct Additive Manufacturing of a Metal Ceramic Composite that Transforms into Ceramic at High Temperatures. Engineering 202601027 DOI:10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.027

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