We report on the preparation and the physical properties of superconducting (TaNb) 1− (ZrHfTi) high-entropy alloy films. The films were prepared by means of magnetron sputtering at room temperature, with ranging from 0 to 1 with an average thickness of 600 -950 nm. All films crystallize in a pseudo body-centered cubic (BCC) structure. For samples with < 0.65, the normal-state properties are metallic, while for ≥ 0.65 the films are weakly insulating. The transition from metallic to weakly insulating occurs right at the near-equimolar stoichiometry. We find all films, except for = 0 or 1, to become superconducting at low temperatures, and we interpret their superconducting properties within the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) framework. The highest transition temperature Tc = 6.9 K of the solid solution is observed for ~0.43. The highest upper-critical field Bc2(0) = 11.05 T is found for the near-equimolar ratio ~0.65, where the mixing entropy is the largest. The superconducting parameters derived for all the films from transport measurements are found to be close to those that are reported for amorphous superconductors. Our results indicate that these films of high-entropy alloys are promising candidates for superconducting device fabrication.

Pastes of a portland cement (60%) blended with a granulated blastfurnace slag (40%) were examined, principally by SEM with EDX analysis. Reaction rims around slag particles and relicts of fully reacted slag particles had compositions compatible with mixtures, in varying proportions, of C-S-H having Si/Ca -0.62 and a phase of the hydrotalcite family having Al/Mg -0.38. Calculations taking into account relevant densities and water contents. indicated that replacement of the slag by its in situ hydration products entails little or no change in the numbers of Mg and O atoms per unit volume, but that substantial proportions of the Ca, Si and Al are released and an equivalent amount of H gained. In other respects, the microstructures qualitatively resembled those of pure portland cement pastes of similar ages, but less CH was formed and the C-S-H not formed in situ from the slag had a Si/Ca ratio of 0.56, higher than that of 0.50 to 0.53 found in the absence of slag. None of the individual phases in the slag cement pastes showed significant compositional variation with time in the 28 day to 14 month period studied. The relative amounts of Ca, Si and Al expelled from the slag are such that, in order to form C-S-H and AFm phase, more Ca is required. It is obtained partly at the expense of CH formation, and partly through increase in the Si/Ca ratio of the C-S-H formed from the clinker phases. Mass balance, volume composition and bound water content were calculated for the 14 month old paste and compared with corresponding results for the pure portland cement.

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Pastes of a portland cement (60%) blended with a granulated blastfurnace slag (40%) were examined, principally by SEM with EDX analysis. Reaction rims around slag particles and relicts of fully reacted slag particles had compositions compatible with mixtures, in varying proportions, of C-S-H having Si/Ca -0.62 and a phase of the hydrotalcite family having Al/Mg -0.38. Calculations taking into account relevant densities and water contents indicated that replacement of the slag by its in situ hydration products entails little or no change in the numbers of Mg and 0 atoms per unit volume, but that substantial proportions of the Ca, Si and Al are released and an equivalent amount of H gained. In other respects, the microstructures qualitatively resembled those of pure portland cement pastes of similar ages, but less CH was formed and the C-S-H not formed in situ from the slag had a Si/Ca ratio of 0.56, higher than that of 0.50 to 0.53 found in the absence of slag. None of the individual phases in the slag cement pastes showed significant compositional variation with time in the 28 day to 14 month period studied. The relative amounts of Ca, Si and Al expelled from the slag are such that, in order to form C-S-H and AFm phase, more Ca is required. It is obtained partly at the expense of CH formation, and partly through increase in the Si/Ca ratio of the C-S-H formed from the clinker phases. Mass balance, volume composition and bound water content were calculated for the 14 month old paste and compared with corresponding results for the pure portland cement.