Enhanced oxidation resistance of MoTaTiCrAl high entropy alloys by removal of Al

Abstract

Refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) exhibit remarkable mechanical properties desired for high-temperature applications. However, their oxidation resistance at high temperatures received less attention. Recent work indicates that MoTaTiCrAl alloy exhibits excellent oxidation resistance, but the effects of Al and Cr remain unclear. In this work, we demonstrate that the addition of Al is unnecessary for preventing oxidation of the MoTaTiCrAl alloy and the removal of Al leads to a more oxidation resistant MoTaTiCr medium entropy alloy. Structural and chemical analyses indicate that the excellent oxidation resistance of MoTaTiCr is mainly associated with the formation of continuous CrTaO4 oxide layer. The results indicate that complex oxides can be adopted as effective candidates for enhancement of oxidation resistance, in addition to typical strategy of forming Al2O3, Cr2O3 or SiO2 barrier layer.