Search Results (1,100)

This work applied three machine learning (ML) models—linear regression (LR), random forest (RF), and support vector regression (SVR)—to predict the lattice parameters of the monoclinic B19′ phase in two distinct training datasets: previously published ZrO₂-based shape-memory ceramics (SMCs) and NiTi-based high-entropy shape-memory alloys (HESMAs). Our findings showed that LR provided the most accurate predictions for a_c, a_m, b_m, and c_m in NiTi-based HESMAs, while RF excelled in computing β_m for both datasets. SVR disclosed the largest deviation between the predicted and actual values of lattice parameters for both training datasets. A combination approach of RF and LR models enhanced the accuracy of predicting lattice parameters of martensitic phases in various shape-memory materials for stable high-temperature applications. Full article

This work studied the effect of sequential irradiation by krypton and helium ions at room temperature on the composition and structure of CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Irradiation of the HEAs by 280 keV Kr¹⁴⁺ ions up to a fluence of 5 × 10¹⁵ cm^–2 and 40 keV He²⁺ ions up to a fluence of 2 × 10¹⁷ cm^–2 did not alter their elemental distribution and constituent phases. Blisters formed on the nickel surface after sequential irradiation, where large blisters had an average diameter of 3.8 μm. The lattice parameter of the (Co, Cr, Fe and Ni) and (Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni) solid solutions increased by 0.17% and 0.37% after sequential irradiation, respectively. Irradiation by Kr ions led to a decrease in tensile macrostresses in the HEAs in the region of krypton ion implantation (Region I) and the formation of compressive macrostresses in the region behind the peak of implanted krypton (Region II). Sequential irradiation formed large compressive stresses in Ni and HEAs equal to −131.5 MPa, −300 MPa and −613.5 MPa in Ni, CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi, respectively, in the Region II. Irradiation by krypton ions decreased the dislocation density by 1.6–2.3 times, and irradiation with helium ions increased it by 11–15 times relative to unirradiated samples for CoCrFeNi and CoCrFeMnNi, respectively. Sequentially irradiated CoCrFeMnNi HEA had higher macrostresses and dislocation density than CoCrFeNi. Full article

Highly entropy alloys (HEAs) are novel materials that have great potential for application in aerospace and marine engineering due to their superior mechanical properties and benefits over conventional materials. NiCrCoFe, also referred to as Ni-based HEA, has exceptional low-temperature strength and microstructural stability. However, HEAs have limited corrosion resistance in some environments, such as a 3.5 wt% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Adding corrosion-resistant elements such as molybdenum (Mo) to HEAs is expected to increase their corrosion resistance in a variety of corrosive environments. Metal additive manufacturing reduces production times compared to casting and eliminates shrinkage issues, making it ideal for producing homogeneous HEA. This study used directed energy deposition (DED) to create Cr_25-xCo₂₅Ni₂₅Fe₂₅Mo_x (x = 0, 5, 10%) HEAs. Tensile strength and potentiodynamic polarization tests were used to assess the materials’ mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. The mechanical tests revealed that adding 5% Mo increased yield strength (YS) by 20.1% and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) by 9.5% when compared to 0% Mo. Adding 10% Mo led to a 32.5% increase in YS and a 20.4% increase in UTS. Potentiodynamic polarization tests were used to assess corrosion resistance in a 3.5-weight percent NaCl solution. The results showed that adding Mo significantly increased initial corrosion resistance. The alloy with 5% Mo had a higher corrosion potential (E_corr) and a lower current density (I_corr) than the alloy with 0% Mo, indicating improved initial corrosion resistance. The alloy containing 10% Mo had the highest corrosion potential and the lowest current density, indicating the slowest corrosion rate and the best initial corrosion resistance. Finally, Cr_25-xCo₂₅Ni₂₅Fe₂₅Mo_x (x = 0, 5, 10%) HEAs produced by DED exhibited excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, which can be attributed to the presence of Mo. Full article

The big advantage of refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) is their strength at high temperatures, but their big disadvantage is their brittleness at room temperature, which prevents their machining. There is a great need to classify the alloys in terms of brittle-ductile (B-D) properties, with easily obtainable ductility indices (DIs) ready to help design these refractory alloys. Usually, the DIs are checked by representing them as a function of fraction strain, ε. The critical values of DI and ε divide the DI—ε area into four squares. In the case of a successful DI, the points representing the alloys are located in the two diagonal opposite squares, well separating the alloys with (B-D) properties. However, due to the scatter of the data, the B-D separation is not perfect, and it is difficult to establish the critical value of DI. In this paper, we solve this problem by replacing the fracture strain parameter with new DIs that scale with the old DIs. These new DIs are based on the force constant and amplitude of thermal vibration around the Debye temperature. All of them are easily available and can be calculated from tabulated data. Full article

CoCrFeMnNi-XZrO₂ (X is a mass percentage, X = 1, 3, 5, and 10) high-entropy alloy composite coatings were successfully prepared on 0Cr13Ni5Mo martensitic stainless steel substrates using laser cladding technology. The phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, and cavitation erosion behavior of the composite coatings under different contents of ZrO₂ were studied. The mechanism of ZrO₂ particle-reinforced cavitation corrosion resistance was studied using ABAQUS2023 finite element software. The results show that the phase structure of the composite coating organization is composed of FCC phase reinforced by ZrO₂ phase. The addition of ZrO2 causes lattice distortion. The coatings have typical branch crystals and an equiaxed crystal microstructure. With the increase in ZrO₂ content, the microhardness of the composite coatings gradually increases. When X = 10%, the coating’s microhardness reached 348 HV, which was 95.53% higher than the high-entropy alloys without ZrO₂ added. Adding ZrO₂ can prolong the incubation period of high-entropy alloys; the high-entropy alloy composite coating with 5 wt.% ZrO₂ exhibited the best cavitation resistance, with a cumulative volume loss rate of only 15.74% of the substrate after 10 h of ultrasonic cavitation erosion. The simulation results indicate that ZrO₂ can withstand higher stress and deformation in cavitation erosion, reduce the degree of substrate damage, and generate higher compressive stress on the coating surface to cope with cavitation erosion. Full article

In the existing literature, there are few studies on the effect of deposition bias on the tribological properties of carbon-doped high-entropy alloy coatings. In order to further study the effect of the deposition bias on the properties of coatings, (AlTiVCrNb)C_xN_y coatings were deposited via unbalanced RF magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and tribological properties of carbon-doped high-entropy alloy ceramic coatings under different deposition biases were studied. The composition, morphology, crystal structure, and chemical morphology of each element of the coating were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The hardness, elastic modulus, friction, and wear properties of the coating were further characterized using a nanoindentation instrument, reciprocating sliding friction, a wear tester, and a white light interferometer. The coating density reached the optimal level when the deposition bias value was 90 V. The hardness and elastic modulus of the (AlTiVCrNb)C_xN_y coating increased first and then decreased with an increase in deposition bias, and the maximum hardness was 23.98 GPa. When the deposition bias was 90 V, the coating formed a good-quality carbon transfer film on the surface of the counterbody due to sp2 clusters during the friction and wear process. The average friction coefficient and wear rate of the (AlTiVCrNb)C_xN_y coating were the lowest, 0.185 and 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ mm³/N·m, respectively. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological performance of the (AlTiVCrNb)C_xN_y coating were greatly affected by the change in deposition bias, and an (AlTiVCrNb)C_xN_y coating with excellent structure and friction properties could be prepared using graphite co-sputtering. Full article

In order to improve the magnetocaloric properties of MnNiSi-based alloys, a new type of high-entropy magnetocaloric alloy was constructed. In this work, Mn_0.6Ni_1−xSi_0.62Fe_0.4Co_xGe_0.38 (x = 0.4, 0.45, and 0.5) are found to exhibit magnetostructural first-order phase transitions from high-temperature Ni₂In-type phases to low-temperature TiNiSi-type phases so that the alloys can achieve giant magnetocaloric effects. We investigate why c_hexagonal/a_hexagonal (c_hexa/a_hexa) gradually increases upon Co substitution, while phase transition temperature (T_tr) and isothermal magnetic entropy change (ΔS_M) tend to gradually decrease. In particular, the x = 0.4 alloy with remarkable magnetocaloric properties is obtained by tuning Co/Ni, which shows a giant entropy change of 48.5 J∙kg⁻¹K⁻¹ at 309 K for 5 T and an adiabatic temperature change (ΔT_ad) of 8.6 K at 306.5 K. Moreover, the x = 0.55 HEA shows great hardness and compressive strength with values of 552 HV2 and 267 MPa, respectively, indicating that the mechanical properties undergo an effective enhancement. The large ΔS_M and ΔT_ad may enable the MnNiSi-based HEAs to become a potential commercialized magnetocaloric material. Full article

The oxidation of six NbTi-i refractory medium- and high-entropy alloys (NbTi + Ta, NbTi + CrTa, NbTi + AlTa, NbTi + AlMo, NbTi + AlMoTa and NbTi + AlCrMo) were investigated at 1000 °C for 20 h. According to our observation, increased Cr content promoted the formation of protective CrNbO₄ and Cr₂O₃ oxides in NbTi + CrTa and NbTi + AlCrMo, enhancing oxidation resistance. The addition of Al resulted in the formation of AlTi-rich oxide in NbTi + AlTa. Ta addition resulted in the formation of complex oxides (MoTiTa₈O₂₅ and TiTaO₄) and decreased oxidation resistance. Meanwhile, Mo’s low oxygen solubility could be beneficial for oxidation resistance while protective Cr₂O₃/CrNbO₄ layers were formed. In NbTi + Ta, NbTi + AlTa and NbTi + CrTa, a considerable quantity of Ti-rich oxide was observed at the interdendritic region. In NbTi + AlCrMo, the enrichment of Cr and Ti at the interdendritic region could fasten the rate of oxidation. Compared to the recent research, NbTi + AlCrMo alloy is a light-weight oxidation-resistant alloy (weight gain of 1.29 mg/cm² at 1000 °C for 20 h and low density (7.2 g/cm³)). Full article

As a novel type of metal material emerging in recent years, high-entropy alloy boasts properties such as a simplified microstructure, high strength, high hardness and wear resistance. High-entropy alloys can use laser cladding to produce coatings that exhibit excellent metallurgical bonding with the substrate, thereby significantly improvement of the wear resistance of the material surface. In this paper, the research progress on improving the high-temperature wear resistance of high entropy alloy coatings (LC-HEACs) was mainly analyzed based on the effect of some added alloying elements and the presence of hard ceramic phases. Building on this foundation, the study primarily examines the impact of adding elements such as aluminum, titanium, copper, silicon, and molybdenum, along with hard ceramic particles like TiC, WC, and NbC, on the phase structure of coatings, high-temperature mechanisms, and the synergistic interactions between these elements. Additionally, it explores the potential of promising lubricating particles and introduces an innovative, highly efficient additive manufacturing technology known as extreme high-speed laser metal deposition (EHLMD). Finally, this paper summarizes the main difficulties involved in increasing the high-temperature wear resistance of LC-HEACs and some problems worthy of attention in the future development. Full article

This study explores the influence of oxygen and nitrogen flow ratios on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AlCrTaTiZr high-entropy oxynitride films. Oxygen flow rates (0%–0.75%) were adjusted while maintaining a fixed nitrogen flow ratio (R_N = 15%) to fabricate films with similar compositions. The results show that increasing oxygen flow enhanced hardness through solid solution strengthening and grain refinement, though excessive oxygen caused an amorphous structure and reduced hardness. After annealing at 900 °C, the hardness of all films was further increased. The film with a nitrogen flow ratio 40 times higher than oxygen exhibited the highest hardness of 21.8 GPa, along with superior mechanical performance. These findings highlight the potential of high-entropy oxynitride films for applications requiring high wear resistance and adhesion. Full article

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) stands out as a key electrochemical process for the conversion of clean energy. However, the practical implementation of OER is frequently impeded by its slow kinetics and the necessity for scarce and expensive noble metal catalysts. High-entropy transition metal sulfides (HETMS) stand at the forefront of OER catalysts, renowned for their exceptional catalytic performance and diversity. Herein, we have synthesized a HETMS catalyst, (FeCoNiCuMn₅₀)S₂, encapsulated within carbon nanofibers through a one-step process involving the synergistic application of electrospinning and chemical vapor deposition. By precisely controlling the doping levels of sulfur, we have demonstrated that sulfur incorporation significantly increases the exposed surface area of alloy particles on carbon nanofibers and optimizes the electronic configuration of the alloy elements. These findings reveal that sulfur doping is instrumental in the substantial improvement of the catalyst’s OER performance. Notably, the catalyst showed optimal activity at a sulfur-to-metal atom ratio of 2:1, delivering an overpotential of 254 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1.0 M KOH solution. Furthermore, the (FeCoNiCuMn₅₀)S₂ catalyst exhibited remarkable electrochemical stability, underscoring its potential as an efficient and robust OER electrocatalyst for sustainable energy applications. Full article

This study explores the mechanical properties of graphene/aluminum (Gr/Al) nanocomposites through nanoindentation testing performed via molecular dynamics simulations in a large-scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator (LAMMPS). The simulation model was initially subjected to energy minimization at 300 K, followed by relaxation for 50 ps under the NPT ensemble, wherein the number of atoms (N), simulation temperature (T), and pressure (P) were conserved. After the model was fully relaxed, loading and unloading simulations were performed. This study focused on the effects of the Gr arrangement with a brick-and-mortar structure and incorporation of high-entropy alloy (HEA) coatings on mechanical properties. The findings revealed that Gr sheets (GSs) significantly impeded dislocation propagation, preventing the dislocation network from penetrating the Gr layer within the plastic zone. However, interactions between dislocations and GSs in the Gr/Al nanocomposites resulted in reduced hardness compared with that of pure aluminum. After modifying the arrangement of GSs and introducing HEA (FeNiCrCoAl) coatings, the elastic modulus and hardness of the Gr/Al nanocomposites were 83 and 9.5 GPa, respectively, representing increases of 21.5% and 17.3% compared with those of pure aluminum. This study demonstrates that vertically oriented GSs in combination with HEA coatings at a mass fraction of 3.4% significantly enhance the mechanical properties of the Gr/Al nanocomposites. Full article

In this study, high-pressure torsion (HPT) processing is applied to the as-cast Al_0.5CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) for 1, 3, and 5 turns. Microstructural observations reveal a significant refinement of the second phase after HPT processing. This refinement effect is influenced by the number of processing turns and the distance of the processing position from the center. As the number of processing turns or the distance of the processing position from the center increases, the fragmentation effect on the second phase becomes more pronounced. The hardness of the alloy is greatly enhanced after HPT processing, but there is an upper limit to this enhancement. After increasing the number of processing turns to 5, the increase in hardness at the edge becomes less significant, while the overall hardness becomes more uniform. Additionally, the strength of the processed alloy is significantly enhanced, while its ductility undergoes a noticeable decrease. With an increase in the number of processing turns, the second phase is further refined, resulting in improvement of strength and ductility. Full article

In order to explore the effect of alloying on the microstructures and mechanical properties of AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs), 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 at.% V, Mo, and B were added to the AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 alloy in this work. The effects of the elements and contents on the phase composition, microstructures, mechanical properties, and fracture mechanism were investigated. The results showed that the crystal structures of the AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 EHEAs remained unchanged, and the alloys were still composed of FCC and BCC structures, whose content varied with the addition of alloying elements. After alloying, the aggregation of Co, Cr, Al, and Ni elements remained unchanged, and the V and Mo were distributed in both dendritic and interdendritic phases. The tensile strengths of the alloys all exceeded 1000 MPa when the V and Mo elements were added, and the Mo0.2 alloy had the highest tensile strength, of 1346.3 MPa, and fracture elongation, of 24.6%. The alloys with the addition of V and Mo elements showed a mixed ductile and brittle fracture, while the B-containing alloy presented a cleavage fracture. The fracture mechanism of Mo0.2 alloy is mainly crack propagation in the BCC lamellae, and the FCC dendritic lamellae exhibit the characteristics of plastic deformation. Full article

Complex concentrated alloys, including high-entropy alloys (HEAs) and medium-entropy alloys (MEAs), offer another pathway for developing metals with excellent mechanical properties. However, HEAs/MEAs of different structures often suffer from various drawbacks. So, investigations on the effect of phase and microstructure on their properties become necessary. In the present work, we adjust the phase constitution and microstructure by Al addition in a series of (Ti₂ZrHf)_100−xAl_x (x = 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, at.%, named Al_x) MEAs. Different from traditional titanium, Al shows a β-stabilizing effect, and the phase follows the evolution of α′(α)→α″→β + ω + B2 with Al increasing from 12 to 20 at.%, which could not be predicted by the CALPHAD (Calculate Phase Diagrams) method or the Bo-Md diagram because of the complex interactions among composition elements. At a low Al content, the solid solution strengthening of the HCP phase contributes to the extremely high strength with a σ_0.2 of 1528 MPa and σ_b of 1937 MPa for Al14. The appearance of α″ deteriorates the deformation capability with increasing Al content in the Al16 and Al18 MEAs. In the Al20 MEA, Al improves the formations of ordered B2 and metastable β. The phase transformation strengthening, including B2 to BCC and BCC to α″, together with the precipitation strengthening of ω, brings about a high work-hardening ratio (above 5 GPa) and improvements in ductility (6.8% elongation). This work provides guidelines for optimizing the properties of MEAs. Full article