Evaluation of Tribological Behavior of Al-Co-Cr-Fe-Ni High Entropy Alloy Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

High-entropy alloys have been studied extensively for their excellent properties and performance, including outstanding strength and resistance to oxidation at high temperatures. This study employed molecular dynamics simulation to produce a high-entropy alloy containing an equal molar ratio of Al, Co, Cr, Fe, and Ni and investigated the tribological behavior of the material using a diamond tool in a vacuum environment. We also simulated a AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy cooled from a high temperature molten state to 300 K in a high-speed quenching process to produce an amorphous microstructure. In a simulation of nanoscratching, the cutting forcedistance curve of high-entropy alloys was used to evaluate work hardening and stickslip. An increase in temperature was shown to reduce the scratching force and scratching resistance. Nanoscratching the high-entropy alloy at elevated temperatures provided evidence of work hardening; however, the degree of work hardening decreased with an increase in temperature. And it can also be found that when the temperature is higher, the fluctuation of the cutting force curve is greater. SCANNING 34: 325331, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.