Age Heat Treatment of Al0.5CoCrFe1.5NiTi0.5 High-Entropy Alloy

Abstract

In this study, Al0.5CoCrFe1.5NiTi0.5 high-entropy alloy was heat-treated from 500 °C to 1200 °C for 24 h to investigate age-hardening phenomena and microstructure evolution. The as-cast alloy, with a hardness of HV430, exhibited a dendritic structure comprising an (Fe,Cr)-rich FCC phase and a (Ni,Al,Ti)-rich B2 phase, and the interdendrite exhibited a spinodal decomposed structure comprising an (Fe,Cr)-rich BCC phase and a (Ni,Al,Ti)-rich B2 phase. Age hardening and softening occurred at 500 °C to 800 °C and 900 °C to 1100 °C, respectively. We observed optimal age hardening at 700 °C, and alloy hardness increased to HV556. The hardening was attributed to the precipitation of the σ phase, and the softening was attributed to the dissolution of the σ phase back into the matrix and coarsening of the microstructure. The appearance of fine Widmanstätten precipitates formed by the (Al,Ti)-rich BCC phase and (Ni,Al,Ti)-rich B2 phase at 1200 °C led to secondary hardening.