Effect of aluminum contents on microstructure and properties of AlxCoCrFeNi alloys

AlxCoCrFeNi alloys with multiprincipal elements (x values in a molar ratio of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3) are prepared by using an arc-melting plus casting method. Their microstructure and mechanical properties are investigated. The results show that the structure of the alloys is an ordered BCC, which is considered as a B2 structure. This result confirms that Al promotes the formation of BCC structure especially when Cu in the alloy is absent. The increase of x leads to distortion of the crystalline lattice and the alloy strengthening. The hardness of the alloys increases with x while the highest hardness (740 HV) is achieved when x = 3. (C)2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.