Fabrication and Characterization of AlCrFeCuNi High Entropy Alloy doped with (Yx) via Arc Melting Technology for Engineering Application

Abstract

AlCrFeCuNi high entropy alloy (HEA) was fabricated using an arc-melting and casting process. Furthermore the alloy’s characteristics were adjusted through the addition of Yttrium (Y) alloying additives at 1wt%, 3wt%, and 5wt%. The effect of Y at varied atomic ratios on the microstructural evolution and Nano-mechanical behavior of the synthesized HEAs was investigated. The HEA being studied proved to possess superior mechanical properties as compared to Ti64, Ni-based alloys and stainless-steel materials. The hardness and Young’s modulus were the HEAs’ mechanical properties investigated. The results show that Y incorporation in the AlCrFeCuNi HEA matrix resulted in the increase in microhardness. This was because the presence of Y caused grain refinement and increases the probability of precipitates or second phases forming inside the alloy. It was also observed that the elastic modulus increased with the addition of Y. This was because elastic modulus, which is a measure of a material's stiffness, also tends to increase with grain refinement.