Abstract
An experimental method for alloy development that allows to systematically scan multicomponent alloy systems is presented using the Cu–Ga–Sn system as an example. Rods with homogeneous concentration distribution of different initial compositions are annealed in a steep temperature gradient with temperatures in the range from above liquidus to below solidus temperature. During resolidification of the initially formed mushy-zone, a continuously varying composition over the length of the rods develops. Further concentration gradients of the alloying elements are generated during subsequent directional solidification. The graded samples are evaluated for different properties. Vickers hardness as a function of composition was measured along the length of the samples to get first information on the mechanical behavior of bulk samples. The melting range of selected compositions (cylindrical disks of 1 mm thickness cut out of the rods) was determined by differential scanning calorimetry and compared to liquidus temperatures extrapolated from the binary systems with a fitting method and the Calphad method. With the procedure introduced here, it is possible to determine several alloy properties over an extended composition range of a multicomponent system with significantly reduced experimental effort.
Highlights
An experimental method for alloy development that allows to systematically scan multicomponent alloy systems is presented using the Cu–Ga–Sn system as an example
The aim of the present paper is to introduce a method that evaluates concentration gradients, allowing the mapping of bulk material properties and the measurement of solidus/liquidus temperatures as a variety of a high throughput technique
When the upper end of an alloy rod is melted in a temperature gradient, a mushy-zone with varying solid and liquid phase fractions will form between the initial liquidus temperature and solidus temperature (fL = 0)
Summary
An experimental method for alloy development that allows to systematically scan multicomponent alloy systems is presented using the Cu–Ga–Sn system as an example. Different bulk high throughput methods for investigating the complex material class of high entropy alloys (HEAs) have been developed for accelerated preparation and processing of compositionally graded alloy samples. These include combinatorial laser additive manufacturing (LAM) techniques[11,12,13], diffusion couples/multiples[14,15,16] and rapid alloy prototyping[17]. Mushy-zone resolidification in a temperature gradient is used for preparing sample rods with longitudinal concentration gradients of the alloying elements This technique has already been utilized to Scientific Reports | (2020) 10:21705. Cu–Ga–Sn alloys have potential applications as shape memory alloys[26] or special bronze alloys with properties deviating from the classical Cu–Sn bronze due to a higher degree of freedom in designing microstructure and functional properties
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