Effect of Nb Addition on Microstructure and Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Fe-Co-Ni-Cu-Cr Multiprincipal-Element (High-Entropy) Alloys in As-Cast and Heat-Treated State

The microstructure and thermal and mechanical properties of (FeCoNiCuCr)(100-x)-Nb-x multiprincipal-element alloys have been investigated in the as-cast and heat-treated state. The alloys were smelted by arc-melting in argon atmosphere. As-cast samples were produced by copper mold casting. The structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The calculated phase diagrams of the Fe-Co-Ni-Cu-Cr-Nb system were used to predict the phase composition. The predicted thermodynamic temperatures and phase areas were compared with those obtained using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the results of SEM observation, respectively. Addition of 10 at.% Nb caused phase separation of the alloy in the liquid state. Addition of Nb caused an increase in the yield strength by solid-solution hardening and by the formation of intermetallic compounds. Heat treatment also affected the mechanical properties of the studied alloys.