Production of a Reinforced Refractory Multielement Alloy via High-Energy Ball Milling and Spark Plasma Sintering

Abstract

Refractory high entropy alloys have shown potential to be developed as structural materials for elevated temperature applications. In the present research, the multielement alloy Fe2TiVZrW0.5 was produced by high-energy ball milling of elemental powders in the air to promote the formation of reinforcing oxide and nitride particles followed by spark plasma sintering consolidation. The sintering temperature was optimized to achieve a full-density material that was characterized from the microstructural and mechanical points of view. Hardness and KIC were measured in the as-sintered condition as well as after thermal treatment at 1100 °C. TEM observations showed the presence of a fine distribution of ZrO2 and Ti(V)-N in the microstructure mainly constituted by the bcc Fe-V and Fe-V-W phases. The fine distribution of ceramic particles in a metallic multielement matrix is responsible for the consistent hardness and thermal stability of this alloy.