Anomalous microstructure and tribological evaluation of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 high-entropy alloy coating manufactured by laser cladding in seawater

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2020.12.050

Abstract

Abstract:

To evaluate the potential of high entropy alloys for marine applications, a new high entropy alloy coating of AlCrFeNiW_0.2Ti_0.5 was designed and produced on Q235 steel via laser cladding. The microstructure, microhardness and tribological performances sliding against YG6 cemented carbide, GCr15 steel and Si₃N₄ ceramic in seawater were studied in detail. The AlCrFeNiW_0.2Ti_0.5 coating showed an anomalous ‘sunflower-like’ morphology and consisted of BCC and ordered B2 phases. The microhardness was approximately 692.5 HV, which was 5 times higher than substrate. The coating showed more excellent tribological performances than Q235 steel and SUS304, a typical material used in seawater environment, sliding against all three coupled balls in seawater. Besides, the wear and friction of AlCrFeNiW_0.2Ti_0.5 coating sliding against YG6 in seawater were most mild. The main reason was the generation of Mg(OH)₂, CaCO₃, metal oxides and hydroxides and the formation of protective tribo-film on the worn surface of AlCrFeNiW_0.2Ti_0.5 coating in the process of reciprocated sliding. This would effectively hinder the direct contact between the worn surfaces of AlCrFeNiW_0.2Ti_0.5 coating and YG6 ball, resulting in a decrease of friction coefficient and wear rate. Thus the YG6 was an ideal coupled material for AlCrFeNiW_0.2Ti_0.5 coating in seawater, and the coating would become a promising wear-resisting material in ocean environment.

Key words: High-entropy alloy coating, Laser cladding, Microstructure, Microhardness, Tribological properties

Hui Liang, Dongxu Qiao, Junwei Miao, Zhiqiang Cao, Hui Jiang, Tongmin Wang. Anomalous microstructure and tribological evaluation of AlCrFeNiW_0.2Ti_0.5 high-entropy alloy coating manufactured by laser cladding in seawater[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2021, 85: 224-234.

Figures/Tables 16

Table 1 Chemical composition of artificial seawater [19].

Compound	Concentration, C (g L^-1)
NaCl	24.530
NaF	0.003
Na₂SO₄	4.090
SrCl₂	0.025
KCl	0.695
MgCl₂	5.200
KBr	0.101
H₃BO₃	0.027
CaCl₂	1.160
NaHCO₃	0.201

Fig. 1. Microstructures of the AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating: (a) the SEI-SEM micrograph of cross-section; (b) line analysis results (the line-scan direction along coating until to substrate); (c) magnified BSE-EPMA view of BZ.

Fig. 2. Microstructures in the CZ of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating: (a) and (b) are the SEI-SEM micrographs of CZ; (c) is the enlarged view of a typical ‘sunflower-like’ microstructure in (b).

Fig. 3. Bright-field TEM images and corresponding SAED patterns for the AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating: (a) bright-field TEM image for the ‘sunflower-like’ microstructure; (b, c) bright-field images for the ‘core’ and ‘petal’ regions respectively, corresponding SAED patterns are shown in insets; (d) SAED pattern of inter-petal region.

Fig. 4. XRD pattern for AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating.

Table 2 Components of different regions of the AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 coating determined by TEM-EDS (at.%).

Regions	Al	Cr	Fe	Ni	Ti	W
Core Seeds: A	19.71	11.27	27.27	31.84	8.17	1.74
Core matrix: B	9.90	32.80	40.35	8.67	2.92	5.36
Petal matrix: C	20.84	6.39	24.17	38.26	9.56	0.78
Petal precipitates: D	15.82	15.79	31.35	28.16	7.28	1.60
Inter-petals: E	12.94	21.47	35.34	21.87	6.05	2.33

Fig. 5. Formation mechanism of the ‘sunflower-like’ structure (L: the liquid phase; α1: primary BCC phase and the BCC phase within lamellae; β1: the B2 phase within lamellae; α2/β2, α3/β3: the BCC/B2 phases resulting from spinodal decomposition in the ‘core’ and ‘petal’ regions, respectively).

Fig. 6. Microhardness distribution curve of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating.

Fig. 7. Friction coefficients of samples sliding against different coupled balls in artificial seawater: (a) average friction coefficients of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating, Q235 steel and SUS304; (b) friction coefficient curves of HEA coating with sliding time.

Fig. 8. Wear rates of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating, Q235 steel and SUS304 sliding against different coupled balls in artificial seawater.

Fig. 9. SEM images of the worn surfaces of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating and different coupled balls after sliding in artificial seawater: (a, a1) coating/Si3N4, (b, b1) coating/GCr15, (c, c1) coating/YG6.

Fig. 10. Schematic diagrams of abrasive wear mechanism of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating sliding against Si3N4 ball in seawater: (a) two-body abrasion; (b) three-body abrasion.

Table 3 EDS results of different regions (Fig. 9) on worn surfaces of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating sliding against different coupled balls in artificial seawater (at.%).

Regions	Al	Cr	Fe	Ni	W	Ti	O	Cl	Ca	Mg	Co
A	5.55	6.45	29.89	22.49	1.31	2.93	30.24	0.37	0.17	0.60	-
B	9.89	12.08	24.82	29.98	2.87	4.87	14.47	0.54	0.06	0.42	-
C	12.58	11.25	16.55	12.79	3.16	6.09	36.97	0.33	0.12	0.04	0.12

Fig. 11. Raman spectra of worn surfaces of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating sliding against different coupled balls.

Fig. 12. XPS spectra of elements on worn surface of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating sliding against YG6 ball.

Fig. 13. Schematic diagram of wear mechanism of AlCrFeNiW0.2Ti0.5 HEA coating sliding against YG6 ball.

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