High-temperature mechanical and thermochemical properties of NbMoTaW refractory high-entropy alloy coatings produced via Nano Particle Deposition System (NPDS)

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the oxidation resistivity and mechanical properties of NbMoTaW refractory high-entropy alloy (HEA)-based coatings at high temperatures. The coating layers were produced using mechanically alloyed HEA powders via Nano Particle Deposition System (NPDS). The as-milled powder is comprised of W-rich BCC1 and NbMoTa-rich BCC2 phases. After the deposition process, the W-rich BCC1 phase remained, while NbMoTa-rich BCC2 phases were transformed into complex NbMo-rich and Ta-rich oxides. Consequently, the NbMoTaW RHEA composite coating exhibited outstanding oxidation resistivity and high nanoindentation hardness at high temperatures compared to that of commercial coating materials, possibly owing to the combination of the W-rich solid solution phase and internal oxides.