Effect of Niobium on Microstructure and Properties of the CoCrFeNbxNi High Entropy Alloys

A series of CoCrFeNbxNi (x values in molar ratio, x = 0, 0.25, 0.45, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.2) high entropy alloys (HEAs) was prepared to investigate the alloying effect of Nb on the microstructures and mechanical properties. The results indicate that the prepared CoCrFeNbxNi (x > 0) HEAs consist of a simple FCC solid solution phase and a Laves phase. The microstructures of the alloys change from an initial single-phase FCC solid solution structure (x = 0) to a hypoeutectic microstructure (x = 0.25), then to a full eutectic microstructure (x = 0.45) and finally to a hypereutectic microstructure (0.5 < x < 1.2). The compressive test results show that the Nb0.45 (x = 0.45) alloy with a full eutectic microstructure possesses the highest compressive fracture strength of 2558MPa and a fracture strain of 27.9%. The CoCrFeNi alloy exhibits an excellent compressive ductility, which can reach 50% height reduction without fracture. The Nb0.25 alloy with a hypoeutectic structure exhibits a larger plastic strain of 34.8%. With the increase of Nb content, increased hard/brittle Laves phase leads to a decrease of the plasticity and increases of the Vickers hardness and the wear resistance. The wear mass loss, width and depth of wear scar of the Nb1.2 (x = 1.2) alloy with a hypereutectic structure are the lowest among all alloy systems, indicating that the wear resistance of the Nb1.2 alloy is the best one. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.