A Novel Low-Density, High-Hardness, High-entropy Alloy with Close-packed Single-phase Nanocrystalline Structures

Abstract

A low-density, nanocrystalline high-entropy alloy, Al₂₀Li₂₀Mg₁₀Sc₂₀Ti₃₀ was produced by mechanical alloying. It formed a single-phase fcc structure during ball milling and transformed to single-phase hcp upon annealing. The alloy has an estimated strength-to-weight ratio that is significantly higher than other nanocrystalline alloys and is comparable to ceramics. High hardness is retained after annealing.

Keywords:

• Mechanical Alloying
• X-ray Diffraction
• Hardness
• Nanocrystalline
• High-entropy Alloys

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the partial support of this research by the National Science Foundation from the Metals and Metallic Nanostructures program under grant DMR-1104930.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

ORCID

Alexander J. Zaddach http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0530-0427