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Microstructure and mechanical properties of MoNbTaW refractory high-entropy alloy prepared by spark plasma sintering

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Abstract

The Mo25Nb25Ta25W25 refractory high-entropy alloy, which was prepared by mechanical alloying utilizing pure elemental powder and spark plasma sintering (SPS), was explored in this work to determine the effects of sintering temperature on phases, microstructure, and mechanical characteristics. The alloyed powder with single BCC structure was fabricated after 30 h of ball-milling process and then was sintered under the SPS conditions of 1700 °C, 1800 °C, 1900 °C, along with the pressure of 50 MPa as well as the dwell time of 20 min. The findings demonstrated that the alloys consisted of BCC matrix phase and Ta and Nb-enriched FCC carbide precipitation phase. And the alloy sintered at 1800 °C possessed a compressive strength of 2571 MPa and fracture strain of 14.51%, which were mostly caused by grain refinement strengthening and particle strengthening. Additionally, the fracture mechanism of alloy was intergranular brittle fracture.

Graphical abstract

The BSE image and EDS results of local area and the TEM results indicated that two phases and their crystal structure after sintering were clearly identify as well as which phase the elements inclined to segregate in the sintered alloy.

The stress–strain curve and nano-indentation results indicated that the carbide particles with high hardness provided contribution to the high strength of the alloy.

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Acknowledgments

This project is supported by Scientific and Technological Plan of Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (Grant No. Z191100002719009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Industrial Research Institute for Metal Powder Material, GRINM Group, Beijing, 101407, People’s Republic of China

    Jiahao Liu & Qiang Hu

  2. GRINM Additive Manufacturing Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing, 101407, People’s Republic of China

    Xinming Zhao & Yanwei Sheng

  3. General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, People’s Republic of China

    Jiahao Liu, Shaoming Zhang & Qiang Hu

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  1. Jiahao Liu
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Correspondence to Xinming Zhao or Qiang Hu.

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Liu, J., Zhao, X., Zhang, S. et al. Microstructure and mechanical properties of MoNbTaW refractory high-entropy alloy prepared by spark plasma sintering. Journal of Materials Research 38, 484–496 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-022-00833-6

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