Effect of Niobium on Microstructure and Properties of the CoCrFeNb_xNi High Entropy Alloys

A series of CoCrFeNb_xNi(x values in molar ratio, x = 0, 0.25, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.2) high entropy alloys(HEAs) was prepared to investigate the alloying effect of Nb on the microstructures and mechanical properties. The results indicate that the prepared CoCrFeNb_xNi(x > 0) HEAs consist of a simple FCC solid solution phase and a Laves phase. The microstructures of the alloys change from an initial single-phase FCC solid solution structure(x = 0) to a hypoeutectic microstructure(x = 0.25), then to a full eutectic microstructure(x = 0.45) and finally to a hypereutectic microstructure(0.5 < x < 1.2). The compressive test results show that the Nb0.45(x = 0.45) alloy with a full eutectic microstructure possesses the highest compressive fracture strength of 2558 MPa and a fracture strain of 27.9%. The CoCrFeNi alloy exhibits an excellent compressive ductility, which can reach 50% height reduction without fracture. The Nb0.25 alloy with a hypoeutectic structure exhibits a larger plastic strain of 34.8%. With the increase of Nb content, increased hard/brittle Laves phase leads to a decrease of the plasticity and increases of the Vickers hardness and the wear resistance. The wear mass loss, width and depth of wear scar of the Nb1.2(x = 1.2) alloy with a hypereutectic structure are the lowest among all alloy systems, indicating that the wear resistance of the Nb1.2 alloy is the best one.

Anomalous microstructure and tribological evaluation of AlCrFeNiW_(0.2)Ti_(0.5)high-entropy alloy coating manufactured by laser cladding in seawater

To evaluate the potential of high entropy alloys for marine applications,a new high entropy alloy coating of AlCrFeNiW_(0.2)Ti_(0.5)was designed and produced on Q235 steel via laser cladding.The microstructure,microhardness and tribological performances sliding against YG6 cemented carbide,GCr15 steel and Si_(3)N_(4)ceramic in seawater were studied in detail.The AlCrFeNiW_(0.2)Ti_(0.5)coating showed an anomalous’sunflower-like’morphology and consisted of BCC and ordered B2 phases.The microhardness was approximately 692.5 HV,which was 5 times higher than substrate.The coating showed more excellent tribological performances than Q235 steel and SUS304,a typical material used in seawater environment,sliding against all three coupled balls in seawater.Besides,the wear and friction of AlCrFeNiW_(0.2)Ti_(0.5)coating sliding against YG6 in seawater were most mild.The main reason was the generation of Mg(OH)_(2),CaCO_(3),metal oxides and hydroxides and the formation of protective tribo-film on the worn surface of AlCrFeNiW_(0.2)Ti_(0.5)coating in the process of reciprocated sliding.This would effectively hinder the direct contact between the worn surfaces of AlCrFeNiW_(0.2)Ti_(0.5)coating and YG6 ball,resulting in a decrease of friction coefficient and wear rate.Thus the YG6 was an ideal coupled material for AlCrFeNiW_(0.2)Ti_(0.5)coating in seawater,and the coating would become a promising wear-resisting material in ocean environment.

A novel Cu-bearing high-entropy alloy with significant antibacterial behavior against corrosive marine biofilms

The design of novel high-entropy alloys(HEAs)provides a unique opportunity for the development of structure-function integrated materials with high mechanical and antimicrobial properties.In this study,by employing the antibacterial effect of copper,a novel Al0.4CoCrCuFeNi HEA with broad-spectrum antibacterial and strong mechanical properties was designed.High concentrations of copper ions released from the HEA prevented growth and biofilm formation by biocorrosive marine bacterial species.These findings serve as a proof-of-concept for further development of unique HEA materials with high antimicrobial efficiency and mechanical properties,compared to conventional antibacterial alloys.

Enhanced antibacterial behavior of a novel Cu-bearing high-entropy alloy

Contact infection of bacteria and viruses has been a critical threat to human health. The worldwideoutbreak of COVID-19 put forward urgent requirements for the research and development of the selfantibacterial materials, especially the antibacterial alloys. Based on the concept of high-entropy alloys, thepresent work designed and prepared a novel Co_(0.4)FeCr_(0.9)Cu_(0.3) antibacterial high-entropy alloy with superior antibacterial properties without intricate or rigorous annealing processes, which outperform the antibacterial stainless steels. The antibacterial tests presented a 99.97% antibacterial rate against Escherichiacoli and a 99.96% antibacterial rate against Staphylococcus aureus after 24 h. In contrast, the classic antibacterial copper-bearing stainless steel only performed the 71.50% and 80.84% antibacterial rate, respectively. The results of the reactive oxygen species analysis indicated that the copper ion release and theimmediate contact with copper-rich phase had a synergistic effect in enhancing antibacterial properties.Moreover, this alloy exhibited excellent corrosion resistance when compared with the classic antibacterialstainless steels, and the compression test indicated the yield strength of the alloy was 1015 MPa. Thesefindings generate fresh insights into guiding the designs of structure-function-integrated antibacterial alloys.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of C_(x)Hf_(0.25)NbTaW_(0.5) refractory high-entropy alloys at room and high temperatures

The microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast and isothermally annealed C_(x)Hf_(0.25)NbTaW_(0.5)(x=0,0.05,0.15,0.25)refractory high-entropy alloys(RHEAs)were studied.Both the as-cast and annealed RHEAs consisted of disordered body-centered cubic solid solution phase and metal carbide(MC)phase with a face-centered cubic crystal structure(Fm-3 m space group).The primary carbides were enriched with Hf and C elements and tended to form lamellar eutectic-like microstructure in the interdendrites.The lamellar eutectic-like structure in the interdendrites would be formed from the decomposition of sub-carbide M_(2)C under the influence of Hf element.After isothermal annealing,slatted carbides were precipitated on the matrix,and the distribution became more uniform with high C content.The formation of carbides strongly influenced the mechanical properties both at room and high temperatures.The yield strength values of C_(x)Hf_(0.25)NbTaW_(0.5) RHEA at 1473 and 1673 K were 792 and 749 MPa,respectively.The result had exceeded the high temperature mechanical properties of currently known RHEAs.Moreover,this RHEA exhibited high-temperature performance stability and excellent plasticity,exceeding 30 and 50%at room and elevated temperatures(above 1273 K),respectively.During thermal deformation,carbon-containing RHEAs obtained more severe work hardening than that of ACHO RHEAs,and required greater dynamic recrystallization to achieve the dynamic equilibrium.

Tensile deformation behavior and mechanical properties of a bulk cast Al0.9 CoFeNi2 eutectic high-entropy alloy

In this study,a new Al0.9CoFeNi2 eutectic high entropy alloy(EHEA) was designed,and the microstructures as well as the deformation behavior were investigated.The bulk cast Al0.9CoFeNi2 EHEA exhibited an order face-centered cubic FCC(L12) and an order body-centered cubic(B2) dual-phase lamellar eutectic microstructure.The volume fractions of FCC(L12) and B2 phases are measured to be 60 % and 40 %,respectively.The combination of the soft and ductile FCC(L12) phase together with the hard B2 phase resulted in superior strength of 1005 MPa and ductility as high as 6.2 % in tension at room temperature.The Al0.9CoFeNi2 EHEA exhibited obvious three-stage work hardening characteristics and high workhardening ability.The evolving dislocation substructure s during uniaxial tensile deformation found that planar slip dominates in both FCC(L12) and B2 phases,and the FCC(L12) phase is easier to deform than the B2 phase.The post-deformation transmission electron microscopy revealed that the sub-structural evolution of the FCC(L12) phase is from planar dislocations to bending dislocations,high-density dislocations,dislocation network,and then to dislocation walls,and Taylor lattices,while the sub-structural evolution of the B2 phase is from a very small number of short dislocations to a number of planar dislocations.Moreover,obvious ductile fracture in the FCC(L12) phase and a brittle-like fracture in the B2 phase were observed on the fracture surface of the Al0.9CoFeNi2 EHEA.The re search results provide some insight into the microstructure-property relationship.

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Multi-component AlxCrFe2Ni2Mo0.2 High-Entropy Alloys

A series of AlxCrFe2 Ni2 Mo0.2 alloy consisting of FCC+BCC phases have been designed,and their as-cast microstructures and mechanical properties were also investigated with x ranging from 0.6 to 0.9.It was found that with the addition of Al element,the solidified structures changed from dendrite to columnar crystal then back to dendrite again.Moreover,the increased amount of BCC phase resulted in finer and more uniform microstructures of FCC[FeCrNi(Mo)]and BCC(Al-Ni)phases.Tensile yield strength and hardness of alloys showed a similar increasing trend as the volume fraction of BCC phase increased.Both strain hardening rate and strain hardening exponent were calculated to assess the tensile properties of the alloys.It was shown that A10.6CrFe2 Ni2 Mo0.2 exhibited the most excellent and comprehensive mechanical properties due to its high work hardening ability and stable strain hardening rate.The product of strength and elongation of Al0.6CrFe2 Ni2 Mo0.2reached up to 38.6 GPa%,which was higher than most of the reported as-cast high-entropy alloys.

Ti-Pt合金金属间化合物的脆韧转变研究

相变是调控材料性能的一种重要方式. Ti–Pt合金作为一种重要的高温相变材料,受到了广泛的关注.但是,金属间化合物的固有脆性和其晶体低对称性、相成分复杂等因素极大限制了材料的应用.本文选取主要包含Ti3Pt和αTiPt两相组织的Ti-35 at%Pt(Ti-35Pt)合金作为研究对象,通过扫描透射电子显微镜下的表征和原位加热实验、扫描电子显微镜下的微米柱原位压缩实验等方式研究发现了Ti-35Pt合金中的脆韧转变现象.当材料加热至一定温度后,αTiPt相可以从Ti3Pt相中析出,并产生孪晶结构,极大细化相结构,细化后的结构具有明显改善的塑性变形和加工硬化能力.后续的透射电子显微镜表征发现,相变和位错滑移是材料主要的塑性变形机制,该现象在低对称性的金属间化合物中十分罕见.实验结果证明金属间化合物可以通过相变调控材料相结构来获取塑性变形能力,实现材料脆韧转变.

Cu-bearing high-entropy alloys with excellent antiviral properties

The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 since December 2019 has caused great challenges to health organizations,and brought tremendous impact on the global economy.There have been over62.3 million confirmed infection cases and 1.4 million deaths reported until now(December 1 st,2020),and the numbers are still growing[1].Although not as influential as COVID-19.