Effect of light (X = Mg, Si) and heavy (X = Zn) metals on the microstructural evolution and densification of AlCuFeMnTi-X high-entropy alloy processed by advanced powder metallurgy

ABSTRACT

Novel AlCuFeMnTi–X high-entropy alloy (HEA) powder mixture with individual X = Mg, Si, Zn was mechanically alloyed for 45 h and consolidated at 700°C by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effect of the addition of Mg, Si and Zn was studied on the microstructural evolution, density and microhardness of the developed HEAs. The results demonstrated that milled HEAs were body-centered cubic (BCC) structured (BCC1 and BCC2). The BCC2 fraction was highest in AlCuFeMnTi–Zn followed by AlCuFeMnTi–Si. However, minor Ti, Si and intermetallic compounds (IMC) were observed in AlCuFeMnTi–Mg with BCC1 major phase. After SPS, the alloying improved, and BCC2-rich HEAs were observed for all compositions. An attractive hardness value was obtained in AlCuFeMnTi–Mg due to the dispersed Cu₂Mg precipitates in the BCC2/BCC1 matrix followed by AlCuFeMnTi–Si and AlCuFeMnTi–Zn HEA, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• High-entropy alloy
• powder metallurgy
• spark plasma sintering
• densification
• mechanical alloying

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) [grant number 2021R1A2C1005478].

Notes on contributors

Myoung Jin Chae

Myoung-Jin Chae is a Master grade student in the Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Korea. He is working on lightweight high entropy alloys, brazing, and powder metallurgy.

Hansung Lee

Hansung Lee is a PhD student in the Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Korea. He is working on high entropy alloys, additive manufacturing, surface engineering and powder metallurgy.

Ashutosh Sharma

Ashutosh Sharma is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Ajou University, Korea. He received his Ph.D. in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Kharagpur), India. His research interests include microjoining, metal matrix nanocomposites, electrodeposition and corrosion. Currently, he is working on high entropy alloys produced by powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing of titanium implant materials.

Byungmin Ahn

Byungmin Ahn is currently Professor in Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Korea. He also holds a position of Adjunct Research Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, USA, where he received his Ph.D. degree from.