Comprehensive insights into recent innovations:Magnesium-inclusive high-entropy alloys

This review focuses on thermodynamic and physical parameters,synthesis methods,and reported phases of Magnesium(Mg)containing high-entropy alloys(HEAs).Statistical data of publications concerning Mg-containing HEAs were collected and analyzed.Data on the chemical elements included in Mg-containing HEAs,their theoretical end experimental densities,thermodynamic parameters,physical parameters,fabricated techniques and reported phases were also collected and discussed.On the basis of this information,a new classification for HEAs was proposed.It is also shown that the existing thermodynamic parameters cannot accurately predict the formation of a single phase solid solution for Mg-containing HEAs.The physical parameters of Mg-containing HEAs are within a wide range,and most of the synthesized Mg-containing HEAs have a complex multiphase structure.

Utlra-fast hydrolysis performance of MgH_(2) catalyzed by Ti-Zr-Fe-Mn-Cr-V high-entropy alloys

Hydrogen energy is one of the ideal energy alternatives and the upstream of the hydrogen industry chain is hydrogen production,which can be achieved via the reaction of inorganic materials with water,known as hydrolysis.Among inorganic materials,the high hydrogen capacity for hydrolysis of MgH_(2)(15.2 wt%)makes it a promising material for hydrogen production via hydrolysis.However,the dense Mg(OH)_(2) passivation layer will block the reaction between MgH_(2) and the solution,resulting in low hydrogen yield and sluggish hydrolysis kinetics.In this work,the hydrogenyield and hydrogen generation rate of MgH_(2) are considerably enhanced by adding Ti-Zr-Fe-Mn-Cr-V high-entropy alloys(HEAs) for the first time.In particular.the MgH_(2)-3 wt% TiZrFe_(1.5)MnCrV_(0.5)(labelled as MgH_(2)-3 wt% Fe_(1.5)) composite releases 1526.70 mL/g H_(2) within 5 min at 40℃,and the final hydrolysis conversion rate reaches 95.62% within 10 min.The mean hydrogen generation rate of the MgH_(2)-3 wt% Fe_(1.5) composite is 289.16 mL/g/min,which is 2.38 times faster than that of pure MgH_(2).Meanwhile,the activation energy of the MgH_(2)-3 wt% Fe_(1.5) composite is calculated to be 12.53 kJ/mol. The density functional theory(DFT) calculation reveals that the addition of HEAs weakens the Mg-H bonds and accelerates the electron transfer between MgH_(2) and HEAs,Combined with the cocktail effect of HEAs as well as the formation of more interfaces and micro protocells,the hydrolysis performance of MgH_(2) is considerably improved.This work provides an appealing prospect for real-time hydrogen supply and offers a new effective strategy for improving the hydrolysis performance of MgH_(2).

Atomistic evaluation of tension–compression asymmetry in nanoscale body-centered-cubic AlCrFeCoNi high-entropy alloy

The tension and compression of face-centered-cubic high-entropy alloy(HEA) nanowires are significantly asymmetric, but the tension–compression asymmetry in nanoscale body-centered-cubic(BCC) HEAs is still unclear. In this study,the tension–compression asymmetry of the BCC Al Cr Fe Co Ni HEA nanowire is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The results show a significant asymmetry in both the yield and flow stresses, with BCC HEA nanowire stronger under compression than under tension. The strength asymmetry originates from the completely different deformation mechanisms in tension and compression. In compression, atomic amorphization dominates plastic deformation and contributes to the strengthening, while in tension, deformation twinning prevails and weakens the HEA nanowire.The tension–compression asymmetry exhibits a clear trend of increasing with the increasing nanowire cross-sectional edge length and decreasing temperature. In particular, the compressive strengths along the [001] and [111] crystallographic orientations are stronger than the tensile counterparts, while the [110] crystallographic orientation shows the exactly opposite trend. The dependences of tension–compression asymmetry on the cross-sectional edge length, crystallographic orientation,and temperature are explained in terms of the deformation behavior of HEA nanowire as well as its variations caused by the change in these influential factors. These findings may deepen our understanding of the tension–compression asymmetry of the BCC HEA nanowires.

Effect of hafnium and molybdenum addition on inclusion characteristics in Co-based dual-phase high-entropy alloys

Specific grades of high-entropy alloys(HEAs)can provide opportunities for optimizing properties toward high-temperature applications.In this work,the Co-based HEA with a chemical composition of Co_(47.5)Cr_(30)Fe_(7.5)Mn_(7.5)Ni_(7.5)(at%)was chosen.The refractory metallic elements hafnium(Hf)and molybdenum(Mo)were added in small amounts(1.5at%)because of their well-known positive effects on high-temperature properties.Inclusion characteristics were comprehensively explored by using a two-dimensional cross-sectional method and extracted by using a three-dimensional electrolytic extraction method.The results revealed that the addition of Hf can reduce Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions and lead to the formation of more stable Hf-rich inclusions as the main phase.Mo addition cannot influence the inclusion type but could influence the inclusion characteristics by affecting the physical parameters of the HEA melt.The calculated coagulation coefficient and collision rate of Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions were higher than those of HfO_(2)inclusions,but the inclusion amount played a larger role in the agglomeration behavior of HfO_(2)and Al_(2)O_(3)inclusions.The impurity level and active elements in HEAs were the crucial factors affecting inclusion formation.

Structure and corrosion behavior of FeCoCrNiMo high-entropy alloy coatings prepared by mechanical alloying and plasma spraying

FeCoCrNiMox composite powders were prepared using the mechanical alloying technique and made into high-entropy alloy(HEA)coatings with the face-centered cubic phase using plasma spraying to address the element segregation problem in HEAs and pre-pare uniform HEA coatings.Scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and X-ray diffractometry were employed to characterize these coatings’microstructure and phase composition.The hardness,elastic modulus,and fracture toughness of coatings were tested,and the corrosion resistance was analyzed in simulated seawater.Results show that the hardness of the coating is HV0.1606.15,the modulus of elasticity is 128.42 GPa,and the fracture toughness is 43.98 MPa·m^(1/2).The corrosion potential of the coating in 3.5wt%NaCl solution is-0.49 V,and the corrosion current density is 1.2×10^(−6)A/cm^(2).The electrochemical system comprises three parts:the electrolyte,the adsorption and metallic oxide films produced during immersion,and the FeCoNiCrMo HEA coating.Over in-creasingly long periods,the corrosion reaction rate increases first and then decreases,the corrosion product film comprising metal oxides reaches a dynamic balance between formation and dissolution,and the internal reaction of the coating declines.

Adhesion property of AlCrNbSiTi high-entropy alloy coating on zirconium:experimental and theoretical studies

Experimental scratch tests and first-principles calculations were used to investigate the adhesion property of AlCrNbSiTi high-entropy alloy(HEA)coatings on zirconium substrates.AlCrNbSiTi HEA and Cr coatings were deposited on Zr alloy substrates using multi-arc ion plating technology,and scratch tests were subsequently conducted to estimate the adhesion property of the coatings.The results indicated that Cr coatings had better adhesion strength than HEA coatings,and the HEA coatings showed brittleness.The special quasi-random structure approach was used to build HEA models,and Cr/Zr and HEA/Zr interface models were employed to investigate the cohesion between the coatings and Zr substrate using first-principles calculations.The calculated interface energies showed that the cohesion between the Cr coating and the Zr substrate was stronger than that of the HEA coating with Zr.In contrary to Al or Si in the HEA coating,Cr,Nb,and Ti atoms binded strongly with Zr substrate.Based on the calculated elastic constants,it was found that low Cr and high Al content decreased the mechanical performances of HEA coatings.Finally,this study demonstrated the utilization of a combined approach involving first-principles calculations and experimental studies for future HEA coating development.

High-entropy alloy catalysts:From bulk to nano toward highly efficient carbon and nitrogen catalysis

High-entropy alloys(HEAs)have attracted widespread attention as both structural and functional materials owing to their huge multielement composition space and unique high-entropy mixing structure.Recently,emerging HEAs,either in nano or highly porous bulk forms,are developed and utilized for various catalytic and clean energy applications with superior activity and remarkable durability.Being catalysts,HEAs possess some unique advantages,including(1)a multielement composition space for the discovery of new catalysts and fine-tuning of surface adsorption(i.e.,activity and selectivity),(2)diverse active sites derived from the random multielement mixing that are especially suitable for multistep catalysis,and(3)a high-entropy stabilized structure that improves the structural durability in harsh catalytic environments.Benefited from these inherent advantages,HEA catalysts have demonstrated superior catalytic performances and are promising for complex carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)cycle reactions featuring multistep reaction pathways and many different intermediates.However,the design,synthesis,characterization,and understanding of HEA catalysts for C-and N-involved reactions are extremely challenging because of both complex high-entropy materials and complex reactions.In this review,we present the recent development of HEA catalysts,particularly on their innovative and extensive syntheses,advanced(in situ)characterizations,and applications in complex C and N looping reactions,aiming to provide a focused view on how to utilize intrinsically complex catalysts for these important and complex reactions.In the end,remaining challenges and future directions are proposed to guide the development and application of HEA catalysts for highly efficient energy storage and chemical conversion toward carbon neutrality.

Modifying element diffusion pathway by transition layer structure in high-entropy alloy particle reinforced Cu matrix composites

The Al0.3CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy(HEA)particles reinforced Cu matrix composites(CMCs)were fabricated by mechanical alloying and sintering.Transition layer structure was obtained by multi-step ball milling to investigate the related influence on element diffusion behavior and wear properties of CMCs.The results indicate that a new Cu transition layer is generated,and the thickness is about 5μm.Cr element diffuses into the interface via the transition layer,which forms the complex oxide.Because of the structure of Cu transition layer,the diffusion rates of Ni,Co and Fe increase,especially the Ni element.The wear resistance of CMCs is improved by 30%,which is due to the improvement of interface bonding strength,compared with the CMCs without transition layer.This method is applicable to the development of advanced HEA reinforced metallic matrix composites.

Wear resistance,hardness,and microstructure of carbide dispersion strengthened high-entropy alloys

(CrFeCoNi)high-entropy alloy(HEA)was reinforced with various contents of WC particles from 5 wt%to 20 wt%,and prepared by powder metallurgy.The mixed powders were compacted under 700 MPa and then sintered at 1200℃in a vacuum furnace for 90 min.Density,phase composition,and microstructure of sintered samples were investigated.Hardness,compressive strength,wear resistance and coefficient of thermal expansion(CTE)were estimated.The results revealed the improvement of the density with the addition of WC.XRD results revealed the formation of new FCC chromium carbide phases.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)results show a good distribution of the carbide phases over the alloy matrix.The CTE was decreased gradually by increasing the WC content.Compressive strength was improved by WC addition.A mathematical model was established to predict the behavior of the strength of the HEA samples.The hardness of the investigated HEAs was increased gradually with the increasing of WC content about 20.35%.Also,the wear rate of HEA without WC is 1.70×10^(−4)mm^(3)/(N·m),which is approximately 4.5 times the wear rate of 20 wt%WC HEA(3.81×10^(−5)mm^(3)/(N·m)),which means that wear resistance was significantly improved with the increase of WC content.

Review of electrodeposition methods for the preparation of high-entropy alloys

High-entropy alloys(HEAs)are suitable for engineering applications requiring excellent mechanical,corrosion,thermal,and magnetic properties.In the last decade,electrodeposition has emerged as a promising synthesis technique for HEAs.Research has focused on the influence of procedure parameters on the deposition of different HEA layers and the effect of their microstructure on their corrosion and magnetic properties.This review of current literature provides comprehensive information on HEAs and the use of direct and pulse electrodeposition as a synthesis technique for these materials.This review also addresses the research gaps on HEA production via electrodeposition,such as using other ceramic particles instead of graphene oxide in composite structures based on HEAs.

Laser metal deposition of refractory high-entropy alloys for high-throughput synthesis and structure-property characterization

Progress in materials development is often paced by the time required to produce and evaluate a large number of alloys with different chemical compositions.This applies especially to refractory high-entropy alloys(RHEAs),which are difficult to synthesize and process by conventional methods.To evaluate a possible way to accelerate the process,high-throughput laser metal deposition was used in this work to prepare a quinary RHEA,TiZrNbHfTa,as well as its quaternary and ternary subsystems by in-situ alloying of elemental powders.Compositionally graded variants of the quinary RHEA were also analyzed.Our results show that the influence of various parameters such as powder shape and purity,alloy composition,and especially the solidification range,on the processability,microstructure,porosity,and mechanical properties can be investigated rapidly.The strength of these alloys was mainly affected by the oxygen and nitrogen contents of the starting powders,while substitutional solid solution strengthening played a minor role.

Effects of substrate temperature and deposition time on the morphology and corrosion resistance of FeCoCrNiMo0.3 high-entropy alloy coating fabricated by magnetron sputtering

The effects of substrate temperature and deposition time on the morphology and corrosion resistance of FeCoCrNiMo0.3 coating fabricated by magnetron sputtering were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical tests.The FeCoCrNiMo0.3 coating was mainly composed of the face-centered cubic phase.High substrate temperature promoted the densification of the coating,and the pitting resistance and protective ability of the coating in 3.5wt%NaCl solution was thus improved.When the deposition time was prolonged at 500℃,the thickness of the coating remarkably increased.Meanwhile,the pitting resistance improved as the deposition time increased from 1 to 3 h;however,further improvement could not be obtained for the coating sputtered for 5 h.Overall,the pitting resistance of the FeCoCrNiMo0.3 coating sputtered at 500℃for 3 h exceeds those of most of the reported high-entropy alloy coatings.

Decomposition kinetics of carbon-doped FeCoCrNiMn high-entropy alloy at intermediate temperature

Phase decomposition kinetics and the corresponding mechanical properties of the severe cold-rolled(SCRed) carbon-doped(1.3 at.%) equimolar FeCoCrNiMn high-entropy alloy(HEA) after being annealed at 500 ℃ were investigated. This single face-centered cubic(FCC) solid-solution HEA decomposed to M23 C6+L10, B2, and σ in chronological order. The formation kinetics of the L10, B2, and σ phases followed the Johnson-Mehl-AvramiKolmogorov(JMAK) equation. The yield strength of the HEA was 1520 MPa and increased to 1920 MPa after being annealed at 500 ℃ for 1 h, as a result of the formation of nanosized M23 C6 and L10. Both strength and ductility decreased after 2 d of annealing due to the increase of volume fractions and the coarsening of the M23C6 and L10 precipitates. From 4 to 32 d, the hardness was found to increase, which is ascribed to the rapid formation of the B2 and σ phases. From 32 to 64 d, the hardness increased further to finally reach about HV 760, with the FCC matrix almost exhausted to form the M23 C6, L10, B2, and σ phases. The results of this work may serve as a guide for the heat-treatment of carbon-doped HEAs.

Microstructure Design of High-Entropy Alloys Through a Multistage Mechanical Alloying Strategy for Temperature-Stable Megahertz Electromagnetic Absorption

Developing megahertz(MHz)electromagnetic wave(EMW)absorption materials with broadband absorption,multi-temperature adaptability,and facile preparation method remains a challenge.Herein,nanocrystalline FeCoNiCr_(0.4)Cu_(0.2) high-entropy alloy powders(HEAs)with both large aspect ratios and thin intergranular amorphous layers are constructed by a multistage mechanical alloying strategy,aiming to achieve excellent and temperature-stable permeability and EMW absorption.A single-phase face-centered cubic structure with good ductility and high crystallinity is obtained as wet milling precursors,via precisely controlling dry milling time.Then,HEAs are flattened to improve aspect ratios by synergistically regulating wet milling time.FeCoNiCr_(0.4)Cu_(0.2) HEAs with dry milling 20 h and wet milling 5 h(D20)exhibit higher and more stable permeability because of larger aspect ratios and thinner intergranular amorphous layers.The maximum reflection loss(RL)of D20/SiO_(2) composites is greater than-7 dB with 5 mm thickness,and EMW absorption bandwidth(RL<-7 dB)can maintain between 523 and 600 MHz from-50 to 150℃.Furthermore,relying on the“cocktail effect”of HEAs,D20 sample also exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and high Curie temperature.This work provides a facile and tunable strategy to design MHz electromagnetic absorbers with temperature stability,broadband,and resistance to harsh environments.

Effect of partial recrystallization on microstructure and tensile properties of NiFeCoCrMn high-entropy alloy

To obtain a balance between strength and ductility in NiFeCoCrMn high-entropy alloy, the degree of dislocation strengthening was tuned via partial recrystallization during traditional thermomechanical processing(cold rolling and recrystallization). The tensile properties in each state were then examined. Significant improvements in uniform elongation and work hardening rate, with decrease in yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, are associated with increase in the recrystallized fraction, i.e., reductions in the degree of strain hardening. In particular, recrystallized fractions of 37% and 74% are obtained by annealing at 650 ℃ for 10 min and 15 min, respectively, which results in yield strengths of 1003 MPa and 742 MPa and uniform elongations of 4% and 24%, respectively. The strengthening is due to the unrecrystallized grains with a high density of dislocations, whereas the ductility benefits from the presence of recrystallized strain-free grains.

Tensile strength prediction of dual-phase Al0.6CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys

The evolution of the microstructure and tensile properties of dual-phase Al0.6CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys(HEAs)subjected to cold rolling was investigated.The homogenized Al0.6CoCrFeNi alloys consisted of face-centered-cubic and body-centered-cubic phases,presenting similar mechanical behavior as the as-cast state.The yield and tensile strengths of the alloys could be dramatically enhanced to^1205 MPa and^1318 MPa after 50%rolling reduction,respectively.A power-law relationship was discovered between the strain-hardening exponent and rolling reduction.The tensile strengths of this dual-phase HEA with different cold rolling treatments were predicted,mainly based on the Hollomon relationship,by the strain-hardening exponent,and showed good agreement with the experimental results.

Microstructure and wear resistance of AlCrFeNiMo_(0.5)Si_(x) high-entropy alloy coatings prepared by laser cladding

In recent years,the coating prepared by laser cladding has attracted much attention in the field of wear research.In this work,AlCrFeNiMo_(0.5)Si_(x)(x=0,0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0)high-entropy alloy coatings were designed and prepared on Q235 steel by laser cladding.The effect of Si content on microstructure,microhardness and wear resistance of the coatings was studied in detail.The results indicate that the AlCrFeNiMo_(0.5)Si_(x) highentropy alloy coatings show an excellent bonding between substrate and the cladding layer.The AlCrFeNiMo_(0.5)Si_(x) coatings are composed of nano-precipitated phase with BCC structure and matrix with ordered B2 structure.With the addition of Si,the white phase(Cr,Mo)_(3)Si with cubic structure appears in the interdendritic,and the morphology of the coating(x=2.0)transforms into lamellar eutectic-like structures.The addition of Si enhances the microhardness and significantly improves the wear resistance of the coatings.As x increases from 0 to 2.0,the average hardness of the cladding zone increases from 632 HV to 835 HV,and the wear rate decreases from 1.64×10^(-5) mm^(3)·(N·m)^(-1) to 5.13×10^(-6) mm^(3)·(N·m)^(-1).When x≥1.5,the decreasing trend of the wear rate gradually slows down.The wear rates of Si1.5 and Si2.0 coatings are 5.85×10^(-6) mm^(3)·(N·m)^(-1) and 5.13×10^(-6) mm^(3)·(N·m)^(-1),respectively,which is an order of magnitude lower than that of Q235 steel.

A new method of preparing high-performance high-entropy alloys through high-gravity combustion synthesis

A new method of high-gravity combustion synthesis(HGCS)followed by post-treatment(PT)is reported for preparing high-performance high-entropy alloys(HEAs),Cr0.9FeNi2.5V0.2Al0.5 alloy,whereby cheap thermite powder is used as the raw material.In this process,the HEA melt and the ceramic melt are rapidly formed by a strong exothermic combustion synthesis reaction and completely separated under a high-gravity field.Then,the master alloy is obtained after cooling.Subsequently,the master alloy is sequentially subjected to conventional vacuum arc melting(VAM),homogenization treatment,cold rolling,and annealing treatment to realize a tensile strength,yield strength,and elongation of 1250 MPa,1075 MPa,and 2.9%,respectively.The present method is increasingly attractive due to its low cost of raw materials and the intermediate product obtained without high-temperature heating.Based on the calculation of phase separation kinetics in the high-temperature melt,it is expected that the final alloys with high performance can be prepared directly across master alloys with higher high-gravity coefficients.

Effect of Mo on microstructure,mechanical and corrosion properties of FeCrNiMnMox high-entropy alloys

Four FeCrNiMnMo_(x)(x=0,0.1,0.3,0.5,in molar ratio)high-entropy alloys(HEAs)were synthesized by vacuum arc melting to explore the potential impact of Mo on the microstructure,mechanical properties,and passivation and electrochemical behaviors in 0.5 M H_(2)SO_(4)solution.The results display that the FeCrNiMn alloy exhibits a single face-centered cubic(FCC)structure while the microstructures of the FeCrNiMnMo_(0.1),FeCrNiMnMo_(0.3),and FeCrNiMnMo_(0.5)alloys consist of the FCC andσphase.The appear of theσphase ascribed to the addition of Mo enhances the hardness and yield strength with the sacrifice of plasticity.The FeCrNiMnMox HEAs achieve the maximum hardness of 414 HV_(0.2)and the highest compressive yield strength of 830 MPa when x=0.5,but compressive fracture strain is lowered to 10.8%.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and electrochemical analysis show that the passivation film in FeCrNiMnMox alloy mainly consists of chromium oxides and molybdenum oxides.Mo has a beneficial effect on the corrosion resistance of the FeCrNiMnMox HEAs in a 0.5 M H_(2)SO_(4)solution by increasing the corrosion potential(E_(corr))and decreasing the corrosion current density(I_(corr))and passivation current density(I_(pass)).The FeCrNiMnMo_(0.1)alloy shows the best corrosion resistance,mainly due to its passivation film consisting of a large proportion of chromium oxide(Cr_(2)O_(3)).More Mo additions promote the formation of the precipitate ofσphase and the matrix regions depleted Cr and Mo elements adverse to the resistance to preferential localized corrosion.

Effect of high-speed laser cladding on microstructure and corrosion resistance of CoCrFeNiMo_(0.2) high-entropy alloy

In order to study the corrosion resistance of high-speed laser cladding(HLC) coating while improving production efficiency,a CoCrFeNiMo_(0.2)high-entropy alloy(HEA) coating was prepared by HLC.The optimized parameters of HLC are laser power of 880 W,scanning speed of 18 m/min,overlapping ratio of 60%,and powder feed speed of 3 r/min.Then,the surface roughness,microstructure,phase composition,element distribution,and electrochemical properties in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution of the coatings were analyzed,respectively.The local surface roughness of the CoCrFeNiMo_(0.2)HEA coating was found to be 15.53 μm.A distinct metallurgical bond could be observed between the coating and the substrate.Compared to the conventional laser cladding(CLC),the results of electrochemical tests showed that CoCrFeNiMo_(0.2)HEA coating exhibited a significant passivation.The corrosion current density of 5.4411 × 10^(-6)A·cm^(-2) and the corrosion potential of-0.7445 V for the HLC coating were calculated by the Tafel extrapolation method.The CLC coating’s corrosion current density and corrosion potential are 2.7083×10^(-5)A·cm^(-2) and-0.9685 V,respectively.The HLC coating shows a superior corrosion resistance,crucially due to the uniform and fine grains.Under various complex and harsh working conditions,this method can be widely used in the field of repairing and remanufacturing of corro sion-proof workpiece s.