Mechanical Properties of High Entropy Alloys Based on Rare Earth Elements with Yttrium and Scandium

Abstract

Abstract—The high-entropy alloys GdTbDyHoSc and GdTbDyHoY having equiatomic composition are considered as promising materials for magnetic cold generators. The results of the alloys structure and chemical composition investigation are presented in this paper. The solidus and liquidus temperatures of the alloys under investigation were determined by the method of differential scanning calorimetry. Based on these data, an experimental mode of thermocyclic treatment was selected. There were no signs of alloys destruction after five cycles testing for heat resistance in the following regime: 15 min exposition at 1073 K (~0.6 of the melting temperature) and subsequent quenching in room temperature water. It was found that the applied heat treatment led to an increase in the hardness of the alloys by 2–3 times and a decrease in wear resistance by 4–40 times, depending on the composition of the alloys and the number of heat treatment cycles. A significant change in the properties of alloys is associated with the formation of oxides of the REM2O3 type not only on the surface of the alloys, but also in their volume, which is due to the high chemical activity of rare earth metals (REM). The presented data will be useful for the development of modes of thermal and thermomechanical processing of various alloys.