Wear Properties of Spark Plasma-Sintered AlCoCrFeNi2.1 Eutectic High Entropy Alloy with NbC Additions

doi:10.1007/s40195-023-01529-4

Abstract

Abstract:

AlCoCrFeNi_2.1-xNbC (x = 0, 2.5, 7.5, and 10 wt%, denoted as NbC0, NbC2.5, NbC7.5, and NbC10) high-entropy alloy (HEA) matrix composites were fabricated by mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS) methods. The effect of NbC content on the microstructures, Vickers hardness, and wear properties of AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 eutectic high entropy alloy (EHEA) was systematically investigated. The results indicate that the AlCoCrFeNi_2.1 alloy consisted of FCC, B2, Al₂O_3, and Cr₇C₃ phases, while the AlCoCrFeNi_2.1-xNbC (x > 0) alloys consisted of FCC, NbC, Al₂O_3, and Cr₇C₃ phases. The AlCoCrFeNi_2.1-xNbC alloys exhibit excellent Vickers hardness with 679 HV, 664 HV, 677 HV, and 695 HV, respectively. In addition, with the addition of NbC, the average friction coefficient and wear rate of the AlCoCrFeNi_2.1-xNbC alloys decrease from 0.59 to 0.42 and from 1.5 × 10^-5 mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹ to 2.4 × 10^-6 mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹, respectively. Wherein, NbC10 alloy shows the smallest average friction coefficient of 0.42 and lowest wear rate of 2.4 × 10^-6 mm³ N⁻¹ m⁻¹, indicating that the NbC10 alloy displays the best wear resistance. And the wear mechanism of the NbC10 alloy was oxidation wear accompanied by slight adhesive wear.

Key words: Eutectic, High entropy alloy, Microstructures, Vickers hardness, Wear property

Hui Jiang, Li Li, Jianming Wang, Chengbin Wei, Qiang Zhang, Chunjian Su, Huaiming Sui. Wear Properties of Spark Plasma-Sintered AlCoCrFeNi2.1 Eutectic High Entropy Alloy with NbC Additions[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2023, 36(6): 987-998.

Figures/Tables 15

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys preparation process

Fig. 2 XRD diffraction patterns of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys

Fig. 3 SEM images of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys: a, b x = 0; c, d x = 2.5; -e, f x = 7.5; and g, h x = 10

Table 1 Chemical compositions of different regions in the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys (at.%)

Alloys	Regions	Al	Co	Cr	Fe	Ni	C	Nb	O
x = 0	A	16.33	15.88	16.47	18.34	32.98	-	-	-
	B	3.07	4.98	45.28	7.37	6.94	32.36	-	-
	C	15.31	17.12	15.63	18.62	33.32	-	-	-
	D	21.34	11.01	10.68	13.00	21.12	-	-	22.85
x = 2.5	B	1.21	4.44	53.94	7.07	5.71	27.63	-	-
	C	7.83	15.01	15.19	15.53	29.55	15.34	1.55	-
	D	20.88	8.11	11.68	12.23	17.09	5.08	1.05	23.88
	E	5.37	5.09	4.80	5.86	8.57	46.62	23.69	-
x = 7.5	B	0.09	7.14	42.76	11.85	3.96	34.20	-	-
	C	6.80	15.01	13.69	17.56	29.05	14.34	2.55	-
	D	26.02	6.78	6.77	12.82	17.89	5.88	1.03	22.78
	E	3.78	1.60	1.50	2.18	2.70	57.73	30.51	-
x = 10	B	0.08	7.14	42.76	11.85	3.96	34.20	0.01	-
	C	7.80	14.01	13.89	17.66	30.71	13.88	2.05	-
	D	25.02	7.68	7.78	11.80	16.89	5.85	1.06	23.92
	E	0.27	0.97	0.82	0.85	1.26	52.22	43.60	-

Fig. 4 EDS mapping of these alloys: a NbC0; b NbC2.5; c NbC7.5; and d NbC10

Fig. 5 NbC particle size distribution of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys

Fig. 6 Average hardness of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys

Fig. 7 a Friction coefficient curve; b average coefficient of friction; c wear sectional profiles; and d wear rate of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC (x = 0, 2.5, 7.5, 10 wt%) alloys

Fig. 8 3D morphologies of the worn surface of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys: a x = 0; b x = 2.5; c x = 7.5; and d x = 10

Fig. 9 Wear morphologies of dry sliding wear scar of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys: a,b x = 0; c,d x = 2.5; e,f x = 7.5; and g,h x = 10

Table 2 EDS results of different regions on the wear scar surface of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys (at.%)

Regions	Al	Co	Cr	Fe	Ni	Nb	C	O
A	7.51	3.20	13.60	5.61	5.58	1.58	11.27	51.65
B	16.01	5.00	7.26	5.21	2.06	0.00	13.62	51.84
C	3.84	5.73	13.52	6.75	9.25	1.16	14.50	45.26
D	8.68	7.90	5.37	10.98	16.12	6.39	18.69	25.86
E	7.42	6.88	7.84	8.96	14.99	0.22	17.65	36.05
F	10.99	4.88	11.84	5.96	7.42	0.22	17.65	41.05
G	8.60	11.58	9.85	8.57	20.36	3.16	15.10	23.78

Fig. 10 Raman spectra of the worn tracks of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC alloys

Fig. 11 Schematic diagram showing standard Gibb's free energy change for several metal oxides as function of temperature

Table 3 Vickers hardness of metal oxides

Alloy	Al	Co	Cr	Fe	Ni	Nb
Oxide	Al₂O₃	CoO	Cr₂O₃	Fe₃O₄	NiO	Nb₂O₅
Vickers hardness (HV)	1500	610	1250	620	500	250

Fig. 12 Presents illustration of the oxide formation of the AlCoCrFeNi2.1-xNbC (x = 0, 2.5, 7.5, and 10 wt%) alloys

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