MATERIALS
Smelting and structure of high-entropy alloys of the FeNiCrCuAl system
This work was aimed to smelt high-entropy alloys (HEAs) based on inexpensive and common metallic elements using iron-based alloys, ligatures, commercially pure metals and study HEAs’ phase structure. High-entropy alloys of the FeNiCrCuAl system were smelted in air using induction furnace in a crucible with a rammed neutral lining made of aluminum and magnesium oxides. Elements of Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, Al were added by way of high-alloyed cast iron or stainless-steel grade X10CrNiTi18-10 (EN 1.4541), low-carbon ferrochrome of industrial grade FeCr70C1, binary Cu-33Al ligature, tough-pitch copper and semi-finished nickel. The investigated alloys were prepared by lost foam and sand mold casting methods. A study of the microstructure showed the presence of rounded shape branches of dendrites, copper-rich interdendritic space and high-chromium carbides in the structure of samples. The phase composition of the as-cast FeNiCrCuAl alloys was represented by several phases: ordered solid solution with primitive cubic lattice of type B2, solid solutions with BCC and FCC lattices and complex carbides (FeCr)₇C₃.