Investigation of the Mechanical and Metallographic Effects of Adding 2-3% Al-Ti-Mo Elements to High-Entropy CoCrFeNi Alloys

Abstract

Recently, high-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted significant attention due to their unique multicomponent composition and exceptional mechanical properties, such as high wear and corrosion resistance, making them superior to conventional alloys for advanced engineering applications. The effects of Al, Ti, and Mo addition on the microstructural and mechanical properties of CoCrFeNi-based HEAs were investigated. The alloys were produced via powder metallurgy and vacuum arc melting, with the addition of 2 and 3% Al, Ti, and Mo, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to perform microstructural characterization, while microhardness and wear tests were used to evaluate mechanical performance. The addition of Al and Ti enhanced the face-centered cubic phase stability and increased the hardness by improving the lattice structure. In contrast, the addition of Mo contributed to solid solution and precipitation hardening, resulting in a simpler microstructure and superior tribological performance. Among all compositions, the alloy with 3% Mo addition exhibited the highest hardness value (approximate to 233.8 HV) and the lowest mass loss (4.3 mg) was observed, indicating a significant improvement in the wear resistance and mechanical strength. In conclusion, the addition of Ti and Mo to CoCrFeNi HEAs promotes solid solution, precipitation, and grain boundary hardening mechanisms, thereby enhancing microstructural integrity, hardness, and wear resistance. These findings suggest that such alloys are promising candidates for use as next-generation structural and tribological materials under demanding operational conditions.