Achieving low wear in a ii-phase reinforced high-entropy alloy and associated subsurface microstructure evolution

Face-centered cubic (fcc) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with dispersed hard intermetallic compounds have demonstrated a good combination of high strength-ductility. However, limited research effort has been devoted to exploring their siding wear behavior. Herein, we report the effects of load and sliding velocity on the dry sliding wear behavior Fe40Co20Mo20Ni20 HEA consisting of an ultrafine-grained (UFG) fcc matrix and a high density of dispersed hard ii-phase. Pin-on-disk dry sliding wear tests show that the Fe40Co20Mo20Ni20 HEA exhibits low wear rates of the order of 10-6?10- 5 mm3/(N?m) at different test conditions. The wear rates and coefficients of friction generally increase with load and sliding velocity, but wear modes show no apparent change, all in the form of abrasive, oxidation and fatigue wear. Sliding-induced gradient microstructure was formed, consisting of a nanostructured glaze layer at the sliding surface and two typical plastically deformed regions further away from the surface. The presence of massive hard ii-phase particles is suggested to hinder the plastic flow of the fcc matrix during sliding, thereby achieving low wear.

Automated summary

The study investigates the dry sliding wear behavior of face-centered cubic high-entropy alloys. Fe40Co20Mo20Ni20 HEA exhibits low wear rates under different test conditions, with abrasive, oxidation, and fatigue wear modes.