Microstructure prediction of eutectic high entropy alloy using physical and computer simulation for additive manufacturing condition

Abstract

The additive manufacturing (AM) of eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) with seven components was simulated. The as-cast alloy comprised of primary dendritic phase and eutectic region between the FCC and Laves phase. The additive thermal cycle generated by the analytical model was used for phase-field and physical simulations. A thermomechanical simulator was used to perform the physical simulation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the effect of AM on the thermal cycle of the test samples and the results showed that the sigma phase was formed in the primary dendritic phase. The formation of the sigma phase was correlated with thermodynamic predictions and heat treatment studies. The thermal cycle of the microstructure, which was predicted using the phase-field simulation, was correlated with the experimental results. The integrated approach that was adopted in the current study can be utilized for the accelerated exploration of alloys for additive manufacturing.