Microstructure and Corrosion Performance of Aluminium Matrix Composites Reinforced with Refractory High-Entropy Alloy Particulates

Novel aluminium matrix composites reinforced by MoTaNbVW refractory high-entropy alloy (HEA) particulates have been fabricated by powder metallurgy. The microstructure of the produced composites has been studied and the corrosion behaviour assessed in 3.5% NaCl solution. The composites exhibited low porosity, good homogeneity, few defects, and good distribution of the reinforcing phase in the Al matrix. No secondary intermetallic phases have been formed while the interface between matrix/reinforcement showed good bonding with no signs of reactivity. Increasing the volume of the reinforcing phase leads to increased hardness values. Al-HEA composites exhibited susceptibility to localised forms of corrosion in 3.5% NaCl solution. The microstructure has been analysed and corrosion mechanisms have been formulated.

Automated summary

Novel aluminium matrix composites reinforced by MoTaNbVW refractory high-entropy alloy (HEA) particulates were fabricated by powder metallurgy. The composites exhibited low porosity, good homogeneity, few defects, and good distribution of the reinforcing phase in the Al matrix. However, increasing the volume of the reinforcing phase led to increased hardness values, while the Al-HEA composites showed susceptibility to localised forms of corrosion in 3.5% NaCl solution.