A novel high-entropy alloy with excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial properties

Abstract

Microbiologically influenced corrosion is a challenge problem involving many fields and causes great corrosion losses. Developing antibacterial structural materials is one of the effective strategies to solve above issues. The current study reports a novel Al0.2CoCrFeNiCu0.3Ta0.1 HEA with outstanding mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial properties. The HEA exhibited a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure with L12 nanoprecipitates enriched in Al–Ni–Ta–Cu that are dispersed in the FCC matrix. Antibacterial rate of the HEA against Bacillus subtilis was more than 99.99 %, which was far superior to that of the traditional antibacterial Cu-bearing 304 stainless steel (72.84 %). The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of the HEA were 1053.5 MPa and 602.5 MPa, respectively, which were much higher than those of traditional antibacterial Cu-bearing 304 stainless steel (530.5 MPa and 242.8 MPa, respectively) without apparent loss of ductility. In addition, this HEA displayed an excellent corrosion resistance that was superior to that of 304 stainless steel and antibacterial Cu-bearing 304 stainless steel.