(FeCoNi)75Cu25-xSix high entropy alloys prepared by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering: Microstructure, deformation behavior and dynamic recrystallization kinetics

Abstract

The present research aimed to produce (FeCoNi)75Cu25-xSix (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 at.%) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) using mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The HEAs containing 0 to 25 at.% of Si are designated as Si0, Si5, Si10, Si15, Si20, and Si25 alloys. The microstructure, phase evolution, and deformation behavior of the HEAs were investigated before and after SPS. Compression tests were conducted on SPSed alloys at room temperature and 800 °C. XRD examination revealed a single-phase FCC structure in Si0 alloy, with Si5 and Si10 alloys consisting of distinct FCC phases. Si15 alloy contained BCC phase and intermetallic compound Ni74Si26. Si20 alloy had BCC and two intermetallics Ni74Si26 and FeSi, while Si25 alloy consisted of intermetallic Ni31Si12 and BCC phases. For Si0, Si5, Si10, and Si15 alloys, cold pressing resulted in ductile failure; for Si20 and Si25 alloys, it caused brittle failure. The Si20 alloy had the highest strength at 1520 MPa, while the Si25 alloy had the lowest strength at 810 MPa. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurs at 800 °C in all alloys with a peak in flow stress followed by a gradual decrease to a steady state stress. Stress-strain curves at 800 °C were analyzed using DRX kinetics, and the Avrami exponent n was between 1 and 2 for all alloys.