Microstructure, mechanical and thermal oxidation behavior of AlNbTiZr high entropy alloy

The developed as-cast AlNbTiZr high entropy alloy (HEA) resulted in the formation of solid solution bcc dendrites along with the inter-dendritic Zr2Al intermetallic phase. Due to low-density of 5.74 g/cm(3) and high yield strength of about 1650 MPa (under compression testing), the alloy exhibited high specific yield strength of approximately 287 kPa m(3)/kg. Further, the AlNbTiZr HEA showed high fracture strength of 1950 MPa and substantial plastic strain of approximately 17.9%. During the isothermal thermo-gravimetry analysis in the synthetic air, at 873, 973, 1073, 1173 and 1273 K for 3 h, the mass gain behavior of the alloy was nearly parabolic indicating the formation of the protective oxide layer. Further, the long-term oxidation studies of the AlNbTiZr HEA carried out in open air atmosphere for 50 hat 873, 1073 and 1273 K confirmed that the oxide layers formed were protective, intact, and spallation did not occur. Formation of complex oxides such as AlNbO4 and Ti2ZrO6 along with Al2O3, NbO, ZrO2 , and TiO2 as confirmed by X-ray diffraction could have led to the sluggish oxidation kinetics of the AlNbTiZr HEA. In contrast, the HfNbTiZr HEA showed poor oxidation resistance at 873 K.