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Enhancing mechanical performance and wear resistance of Co-free B2/A2 CrFeNiAl alloy via Cr and Ti adjustment

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Abstract

The adjusted mixture of ordered body-centered cubic (bcc) structure, referred to as B2, and disordered bcc structure, referred to as A2, in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) leads to a substantial enhancement in their strength. Via selecting elements in B2/A2 HEAs, their microstructure could be optimized for desirable properties (e.g., strength, ductility, and wear resistance) to meet requirements for specific applications. In this study, we delved into the effect of interplay between Cr and Ti in shaping the microstructure, mechanical properties, and wear resistance of Co-free B2/A2 CrFeNiAl alloy. CrxFeNiAl and CrxFeNiAlTi0.5 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5) alloys were synthesized. For Ti-free FeNiAl alloy, the introduction of Cr led to a transition from a single B2 phase to a mixture of B2 and A2 phases, along with a morphological change from A2 nanoparticles embedded in B2 phase to an alternating lamellar eutectic structure or cellular structure. While in the Ti-containing FeNiAlTi0.5 alloy, Cr induced a shift from a microstructure of B2 + Fe2Ti Laves phase to one consisting of B2 + A2 phases. Ti increased the B2 lattice parameter. Notably, the strength, hardness, and ductility of the HEA increase with increasing Cr content, attributed to the precipitation and augmentation of A2 phase, Cr-facilitated solution hardening, and elimination of the Laves phase. The incorporation of Ti enhances strength at the expense of ductility. For the FeNiAl alloy, the developed oxide film caused by frictional heating during wear test enhanced its wear resistance, surpassing that of harder Cr0.5FeNiAl alloy. The wear resistance was improved with added Cr. Ti also contributes positively to wear resistance due to increased mechanical strength and the formation of a protective oxide scale.

Impact statement

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of modifying mechanical and wear properties of Co-free CrFeNiAl alloy via tuning the B2/A2 phase ratio by adjusting elemental contents. It is shown that Ti increases the B2 lattice parameter, enhancing strength and wear resistance, but compromising ductility. Inclusion of Cr, regardless of Ti’s presence, results in simultaneous improvements in the strength, ductility, and wear resistance. The elucidated mechanism would help design effective HEAs with optimal combinations of mechanical and wear properties.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for financial support from Alberta Innovates, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Trimay and Mitacs.

Funding

This work is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Alberta Innovates, Trimay, Mitacs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H5, Canada

    Mingyu Wu, Rui Ken Sim, Anqiang He, Guijiang Diao & Dongyang Li

  2. Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Mechatronics Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada

    Daolun Chen

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  1. Mingyu Wu
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Contributions

M.W. and D.L. conceived the idea, designed the experiments, and wrote the manuscript. R.K.S. helped make the alloy samples and conducted the SEM examination. A.H. carried out the TEM examination and data analysis. M.W. and G.D. evaluated the alloys’ properties and completed additional characterization work. D.C. helped in the data analysis and reviewed and edited the manuscript. D.L. supervised the research project. All authors contributed to general discussion.

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Correspondence to Dongyang Li.

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Wu, M., Sim, R.K., He, A. et al. Enhancing mechanical performance and wear resistance of Co-free B2/A2 CrFeNiAl alloy via Cr and Ti adjustment. MRS Bulletin 49, 25–37 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43577-023-00624-2

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