Series of nanocrystalline NiCoAlFe(Cr, Cu, Mo, Ti) high-entropy alloys produced by mechanical alloying

Abstract

The mechanical alloying technique was employed to produce series of high entropy alloys, combining in equiatomic percentage Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni and Ti. Milling times were 0, 10, 20 and 30 h, and experiments were performed in a high energy ball mill (SPEX-8000M) under argon atmosphere. The structural and microstructural changes due to mechanical alloying process were studied by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Although there is the presence of pure elements with HCP crystalline structure, the XRD patterns of as-milled powders revealed the presence of a mixture of nanocrystalline solid solution with FCC and BCC structure phases. The hardness of the powder samples was evaluated by Vickers microhardness testing. The average microhardness values indicate that the alloy with the greatest hardness is the NiCoAlFeMoCr.