Phase Formation of Novel Al-Mg-Zn-Cu-Si Lightweight High Entropy Alloy

Abstract

In this paper, a novel lightweight and low-cost Al35Mg20Zn15Cu10Si20 at. % (Al26.17Mg13.47Zn27.18Cu17.61Si15.57 wt.%) has been successfully designed, produced, and characterized. The thermophysical parameters were used to understand the phases associated with this alloy that show a low density of 3.42 g/cm3. The designed alloy was manufactured using both the arc and the muffle furnace. The alloy was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The alloy is characterized by a multiphase microstructure with three major phases including Mg2Si intermetallic phase and eutectic. The volume fraction of the eutectic and the intermetallic phases are 37.83 and 34.99 respectively. The heat capacities of the alloy were also determined by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The alloy provides a high latent heat of up to 124 J/g, which is one of the highest among the high-temperature metallic materials. The present work provides valuable information for researchers wishing to design and manufacture industrial-grade high-entropy alloys (HEAs).