Medium-Entropy Alloy: History
View Latest Version
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Subjects: Ergonomics
Contributor:
Da Hong
,
Hebin Wang
,
Longgang Hou
,
Ping Ou
,
Yiqi Wang
,
Hongjin Zhao

The objective of this study is to strengthen the FCC structued medium-entropy alloy using the hard carbides.

  • medium-entropy alloy
  • aging treatment
  • carbides
  • precipitation strengthening

1. Introduction

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are defined as alloys composed of five or more principal elements with the molar ratio of each principal element between 5% and 35% [1]. As one of the new materials that developed in recent years, HEAs have received more and more attention [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12] due to their unique property differences from traditional alloys for which the composition is based on one or two principal elements. HEAs are mainly manifested as the following four core effects: high configuration entropy in thermodynamics, sluggish atomic diffusion in kinetics, severe lattice distortion effect in structure, and “cocktail” effect in performance [4]. Due to their unique high-entropy effect, HEAs are easy to form a simple solid solution structure rather than intermetallic compounds, thus exhibiting high strength, high hardness, good ductility, and excellent thermal stability [13,14,15,16,17].
 
FeCoCrNi is a typical HEA with a simple face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, possessing good ductility and fracture toughness at room temperature or liquid nitrogen temperature. However, its strength is only 145 MPa in the as-cast state, which is far from meeting the demand of practical applications [18]. In order to solve this issue, some strengthening methods, such as fine grain strengthening, dislocation strengthening, precipitation strengthening, and solution strengthening should be introduced into this alloy. Among them, precipitation strengthening is an effective method to improve the strength of FeCoCrNi HEA. T T shun et al. [19] have investigated the aging-hardening of the FeCoCrNiMo0.85 HEA after aging at 700–1000 °C, and they found that the σ phase can be completely transformed into the μ phase after 700 °C aging, giving rise to the hardness increasing from 420 to 621 HV. He et al. [20] have studied the strengthening mechanism of FCC precipitates in CoCrFeNiNb0.25 HEA and found that FCC precipitates appeared in the matrix after annealing, resulting in doubling the strength without losing the plasticity. As interstitial atoms, carbon is widely used in the traditional structural materials such as steels and super-alloys due to its solid solution strengthening and carbide precipitation strengthening [21,22,23,24]. In some super-austenitic steel, the precipitation of carbide in the austenitic matrix can give rise to the outstanding strength at high temperatures. Ou et al. [25,26] observed that the dense nanosized MX phases were precipitated at the coherent Cu-rich phase with a nanosized diameter in the austenitic matrix, contributing an excellent precipitation strengthening effect and creep resistance in the Super304H austenitic steel. Anburaj et al. [27] investigated the precipitation behavior in an aged super-austenitic stainless steel and found that chi, carbides, and sigma phases are formed during aging at 500–1000 °C, giving rise to the increase in the hardness, while the incoherent sigma precipitate in the austenite matrix was detrimental to the toughness of alloys. In recent years, carbons have already been applied in HEAs gradually. Wu et al. [28] have reported that both the yield strength and the tensile strength of CoCrFeNiMnHEA were significantly increased by adding 0.5 at.% of C. N. Gao et al. [29] have studied the strengthening effect of NbC precipitation on the microstructure and property of FeCoCrNiMn HEA and found that 0.8 at.% of Nb/C addition can increase the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength to 732 MPa and 911 MPa, respectively, while maintaining a high elongation of 32%.
Many studies have shown that equal atomic ratios are not the necessary condition for the formation of single-phase solid solutions. For example, Tasan et al. [30] have investigated the effect of non-equal atomic ratios on the phase stability, deformation mechanism, and mechanical properties of FeCoCrNiMn HEA, and they found that the Fe40Mn27Ni26Co5Cr2 alloy is composed of a stable single FCC structure, and the quaternary unequal atomic ratio Fe37Mn45Co9Cr9 alloy is also comprised of a single FCC equiaxed crystal structure after homogenization treatment. Ma et al. [31] have found that the Fe42Cr20Ni30Co6Cr2 MEA contains only a single FCC phase. Stepanov et al. [32] have studied a series of quaternary Cr–Fe–Ni–Mn non-equal atomic ratio alloys, and they found that the Fe40Mn28Ni28Cr4, Fe40Mn28Ni20Cr12, and Fe40Mn28Ni14Cr18 alloys are all composed of a simple FCC structure.
 
Carbides are an effective hardening particle for improving the strength of the steels. For example, Scott et al. [33] have enhanced the strength of high manganese austenitic TWIP steels by TiC, NbC, and VC. Wang et al. [34] found that the ultrafine M3C, M7C3, and M23C6 carbides are responsible for the enhanced strength of high chromium steels. VC and Mo2C are hard phases with simple crystal structures, which are commonly formed in V-Mo-containing steels. VC/Mo2C carbides usually show two main types of size distribution: one is the primary carbides with a size range of 1–10 µm formed during solidification, and the other is the fine strengthening secondary precipitates with a nanometer size generated from a supersaturated matrix during the aging treatment or when the steels are serviced at high temperature. The substantial strengthening effect of VC/Mo2C carbides has been reported for various steel grades [35,36]. So far, few have rarely reported on the precipitation behavior of Mo2C, VC, Cr7C3, etc., in FeCoCrNiHEAs, although these particles can be used to strengthen the alloy by second phase strengthening. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to use the hard Mo2C and VC carbides to strengthen FCC-structured HEA using a high content of carbide-forming elements. There are two considerations that need to be taken into account when designing the alloy composition. Firstly, increasing the Fe content to above 50% on the basis of FeCoCrNi HEA can effectively reduce the cost of HEAs while still obtaining adequate entropy configuration to stabilize FCC solid solution over intermetallic compounds. Secondly, strong carbide-forming elements Mo and V and sufficient C element are added for promoting the precipitates of carbides. The investigated alloy is named as non-equal-atomic Fe55(CoCrNi)10(MoV)5C5, which can be classified as a medium-entropy alloy (MEA), according to the generally accepted definition that specifies MEA as an alloy with the configuration entropy between R and 1.5R, in which R is the gas constant.

2. Tensile Properties

Figure 9 shows the engineering stress-strain curves of the alloys in different states. It can be seen that the tensile strength and elongation of the as-cast alloy was low. When the alloy was aged, both the ductility and strength increased. The mechanical properties of the alloys in different states are collected in Table 4. As can be shown, the tensile strength of the alloy reached a maximum value of 626 MPa after aging at 800 °C for 4 h, which increased by 94% compared to those of the as-cast alloy, while the elongation increased from 1.2% to 6.2%. As the temperature increases to 1000 °C, its tensile strength decreased to 548 MPa, and the elongation decreased to 2.9%. Figure 10 shows the tensile fracture morphology of the alloys at different states. As shown in Figure 10a,b, the fracture surface of the as-cast alloy is characterized by cleavage facets, secondary cracks, and a small amount of tearing ridges, suggesting that it belongs to brittle fracture. This is because there are a large number of network carbides on the grain boundary, which can seriously reduce the plasticity of the alloy. Figure 10c,d show the fracture morphology of the alloy after aging at 800 °C for 4 h, and it can be found that there are more tearing edges and increased dimples except for some river-like cleavage facets, indicating that the fracture mechanism belongs to quasi-cleavage fracture. The improvement of ductility for the 800 °C aged alloy might be attributed to the large number of carbide particles dispersed throughout the matrix effectively released local stress concentration during deformation, thus making the cracks difficult to initiate and propagate. On the other hand, the precipitation of the secondary phase particles can promote the nucleation of microscopic voids and the occurrence of local plastic deformation, thus increasing elongation [39]. The fracture morphology of the 1000 °C aged alloy shown in Figure 10e,f manifests a complex fracture surface of river-like cleavage facets, cleavage steps, and a few dimples, indicating that the type of fracture belongs to brittle fracture. As depicted above, the fine precipitates have coarsening and aggregating after being aged at 1000 °C. Some studies have pointed out that the larger carbides can weaken the effect of the precipitation strengthening, leading to the decrease in strength [40,41]. As the VC carbides grow up, a stress concentration is generated around them during the deformation process, and the crack is easy to form and expand, thus reducing the ductility.
Metals 10 01093 g009 550
Figure 9. Engineering stress-strain curves of the alloys in different states.
Metals 10 01093 g010 550
Figure 10. The fracture morphologies of the investigated alloys: (a,b) as-cast; (c,d) 800 °C aged for 4 h; (e,f) 1000 °C aged for 4 h.
 
Table 4. Yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and elongation of alloys in different states.
 

References

  1. Yeh, J.W.; Chen, S.K.; Lin, S.J.; Gan, J.Y.; Chin, T.S.; Shun, T.T.; Tsau, C.H.; Chang, S.Y. Nanostructured high-entropy alloys with multiple principal elements: Novel alloy design concepts and outcomes. Adv. Eng. Mater. 2004, 6, 299–303. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  2. Miracle, D.B.; Senkov, O.N. A critical review of high entropy alloys and related concepts. Acta Mater. 2017, 122, 448–511. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Ye, Y.F.; Wang, Q.; Lu, J.; Liu, C.T.; Yang, Y. High-entropy alloy: Challenges and prospects. Mater. Today 2016, 19, 349–362. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Zhang, Y.; Zuo, T.T.; Tang, Z.; Gao, M.C.; Dahmen, K.A.; Liaw, P.K.; Lu, Z.P. Microstructures and properties of high-entropy alloys. Prog. Mater. Sci. 2014, 61, 1–93. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. He, F.; Wang, Z.; Wu, Q.; Niu, S.; Li, J.; Wang, J.; Liu, C.T. Solid solution is land of the Co-Cr-Fe-Ni high entropy alloy system. Scr. Mater. 2017, 131, 42–46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Zhang, W.R.; Liaw, P.K.; Zhang, Y. Science and technology in high-entropy alloys. Sci. China Mater. 2018, 61, 2–22. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Wang, W.R.; Wang, W.L.; Wang, S.C.; Tsai, Y.C.; Lai, C.H.; Yeh, J.W. Effects of Al addition on the microstructure and mechanical property of AlxCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys. Intermetallics 2012, 26, 44–51. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Li, Z.; Pradeep, K.G.; Deng, Y.; Raabe, D.; Tasan, C.C. Metastable high-entropy dual-phase alloys overcome the strength-ductility trade-off. Nature 2016, 534, 227–230. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Stepanov, N.D.; Shaysultanov, D.G.; Chernichenko, R.S.; Yurchenko, N.Y.; Zherebtsov, S.V.; Tikhonovsky, M.A.; Salishchev, G.A. Effect of thermomechanical processing on microstructure and mechanical properties of the carbon-containing CoCrFeNiMn high entropy alloy. J. Alloys Compd. 2017, 693, 394–405. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Qiu, X.W.; Wu, M.J.; Liu, C.G.; Zhang, Y.P.; Huang, C.X. Corrosion performance of Al2CrFeCoxCuNiTi high-entropy alloy coatings in acid liquids. J. Alloys Compd. 2017, 708, 353–357. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Seol, J.B.; Bae, J.W.; Li, Z.; Han, J.C.; Kim, J.G.; Raabe, D.; Kim, H.S. Boron doped ultrastrong and ductile high-entropy alloys. Acta Mater. 2018, 151, 366–376. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  12. Riva, S.; Tudball, A.; Mehraban, S.; Lavery, N.P.; Brown, S.G.R.; Yusenko, K.V. A novel High-Entropy Alloy-based composite material. J. Alloys Compd. 2018, 730, 544–551. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Lin, C.M.; Tsai, H.L.; Bor, H.Y. Effect of aging treatment on microstructure and properties of high-entropy Cu0.5CoCrFeNi alloy. Intermetallics 2010, 18, 1244–1250. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Ren, B.; Liu, Z.X.; Li, D.M.; Shi, L.; Cai, B.; Wang, M.X. Corrigendum to “Effect of elemental interaction on microstructure of CuCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy system”. J. Alloys Compd. 2010, 503, 538. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Tsai, K.Y.; Tsai, M.H.; Yeh, J.W. Sluggish diffusion in Co–Cr–Fe–Mn–Ni high-entropy alloys. Acta Mater. 2013, 61, 4887–4897. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Chuang, M.H.; Tsai, M.H.; Wang, W.R.; Lin, S.J.; Yeh, J.W. Microstructure and wear behavior of AlxCo1.5CrFeNi1.5Tiy high-entropy alloys. Acta Mater. 2011, 59, 6308–6317. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Li, X.F.; Feng, Y.H.; Liu, B.; Yi, D.H.; Yang, X.H.; Zhang, W.D.; Chen, G.; Liu, Y.; Bai, P.K. Influence of NbC particles on microstructure and mechanical properties of AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy coatings prepared by laser cladding. J. Alloys Compd. 2019, 788, 485–494. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Jiang, H.; Han, K.M.; Qiao, D.X.; Lu, Y.P.; Chao, Z.Q.; Li, T.J. Effects of Ta Addition on the Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of CoCrFeNi High Entropy Alloy. Mater. Chem. Phys. 2018, 210, 43–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Shun, T.T.; Chang, L.Y.; Shiu, M.H. Age-hardening of the CoCrFeNiMo0.85 high-entropy alloy. Mater. Charact. 2013, 81, 92–96. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. He, F.; Wang, Z.J.; Liu, S.Z.; Wu, Q.F.; Li, J.J.; Wang, J.C.; Liu, C.T.; Dang, Y.Y. Strengthening the CoCrFeNiNb0.25 high entropy alloy by FCC precipitate. J. Alloys Compd. 2016, 667, 53–57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Saenarjhan, N.; Kang, J.H.; Kim, S.J. Effects of carbon and nitrogen on austenite stability and tensile deformation behavior of 15Cr-15Mn-4Ni based austenitic stainless steels. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 2019, 742, 608–616. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Conrad, H. Effect of interstitial solutes on the strength and ductility of titanium. Prog. Mater. Sci. 1981, 26, 123–403. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Urrutia, I.G.; Raabe, D. Multistage strain hardening through dislocation substructure and twinning in a high strength and ductile weight-reduced Fe-Mn-Al-C steel. Acta Mater. 2012, 60, 5791–5802. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Gutierrez, I.; Raabe, D. Microbanding mechanism in a Fe-Mn-C high-Mn twinning-induced plasticity steel. Scr. Mater. 2013, 69, 53–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Ou, P.; Xing, H.; Sun, J. Precipitation of nanosized MX at coherent Cu-rich phases in Super304H austenitic steel. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 2015, 46, 1–5. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Ou, P.; Li, L.; Xie, X.F.; Sun, J. Steady-state creep behavior of Super304H austenitic steel at elevated temperatures. Acta Metall. Sin. (Engl. Lett.) 2015, 28, 1336–1343. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Anburaj, J.; Nazirudeen, S.S.M.; Narayanan, R.; Anandavel, B.; Chandrasekar, A. Ageing of forged superaustenitic stainless steel: Precipitate phases and mechanical properties. Mater. Sci. Eng. A 2012, 535, 99–107. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Wu, Z.; Parish, C.M.; Bei, H. Nano-twin mediated plasticity in carbon-containing FeNiCoCrMn high entropy alloys. J. Alloys Compd. 2015, 647, 815–822. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Gao, N.; Lu, D.H.; Zhao, Y.Y.; Liu, X.W.; Liu, G.H.; Wu, Y.; Liu, G.; Fan, Z.T.; Lu, Z.P.; George, E.P. Strengthening of a CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy by carbide precipitation. J. Alloys Compd. 2019, 792, 1028–1035. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Tasan, C.C.; Deng, Y.; Pradeep, K.G.; Yao, M.J.; Springer, H.; Raabe, D. Composition Dependence of Phase Stability, Deformation Mechanisms, and Mechanical Properties of the CoCrFeMnNi High-Entropy Alloy System. JOM 2014, 66, 1993–2001. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Ma, D.C.; Yao, M.J.; Pradeep, K.G.; Tasan, C.C.; Springer, H.; Raabe, D. Phase stability of non-equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloys. Acta Mater. 2015, 98, 288–296. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Stepanov, N.D.; Shaysultanov, D.G.; Tikhonovsky, M.A.; Salishchev, G.A. Tensile properties of the Cr-Fe-Ni-Mn non-equiatomic multicomponent alloys with different Cr contents. Mater. Des. 2015, 87, 60–65. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Scott, C.; Remy, B.; Collet, J.L.; Cael, A.; Bao, C.; Danoix, F.; Malard, B.; Curfs, C. Precipitation strengthening in high manganese austenitic TWIP steels. Int. J. Mater. Res. 2011, 102, 538–549. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Wang, Y.; Li, M.Y.; Han, B.; Han, T.; Cheng, Y.Y. Influence of secondary carbides precipitation and transformation on the secondary hardening of laser melted high chromium steel. J. Mater. Sci. 2010, 45, 3442–3447. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Xu, W.; Rivera-Diaz-del-Castillo, P.E.J.; Yan, W.; Yang, K.; Martin, D.S.; Kestens, L.A.I.; van der Zwaag, S. A new ultrahigh-strength stainless steel strengthened by various coexisting nanoprecipates. Acta Mater. 2010, 58, 4067–4075. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  36. Wang, H.B.; Hou, L.G.; Li, Y.B.; Ou, P.; Shen, L.; Wen, X.E.; Cui, H.; Zhang, J.S. Effect of niobium on the secondary precipitates and tempering resistance of spray-formed M3:2 high-speed steel. J. Mater. Eng. Perform. 2019, 28, 926–937. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/met10081093

© Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
This entry is offline, you can click here to edit this entry!
ScholarVision Creations
Feedback