Manufacturing of Ni-Co-Fe-Cr-Al-Ti High-Entropy Alloy Using Directed Energy Deposition and Evaluation of Its Microstructure, Tensile Strength, and Microhardness

Abstract

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have drawn significant attention due to their unique design and superior mechanical properties. Comprising 5–35 at% of five or more elements with similar atomic radii, HEAs exhibit high configurational entropy, resulting in single-phase solid solutions rather than intermetallic compounds. Additive manufacturing (AM), particularly direct energy deposition (DED), is effective for producing HEAs due to its rapid cooling rates, which ensure uniform microstructures and minimize defects. These alloys typically form face-centered cubic (FCC) or body-centered cubic (BCC) structures, contributing to their exceptional strength, hardness, and mechanical performance across various temperatures. However, FCC-structured HEAs often have low yield strengths, posing a challenge for structural applications. In this study, a Ni-Co-Fe-Cr-Al-Ti HEA was manufactured using the DED method. This study proposes that the addition of aluminum and titanium creates a γ + γ′ phase structure within a multicomponent FCC-HEA matrix, enhancing the thermal stability and coarsening the resistance and strength. The γ′ phase with an ordered FCC structure significantly improves the mechanical properties. Analysis confirmed the presence of the γ + γ′ structure and demonstrated the alloy’s high tensile strength and microhardness. This approach underscores the potential of AM techniques in advancing HEA production for high-performance applications.