SiC incorporation effects on AlFeCrNiTi high entropy alloy morphology, mechanical and corrosion properties

Abstract

Using pulse electrodeposition method on copper substrates, AlFeCrNiTi high entropy alloy (HEA) coatings were successfully applied with various concentrations of silicon carbide (0, 10, 15 and 20 g/L) in the coating bath as reinforcement. Various techniques were used to investigate the created structure and its properties, including morphology, chemical composition, phase analysis, microhardness, corrosion, and wear. In the presence of silicon carbide particles, the coatings had a spherical morphology. The formation of HEA was confirmed by EDS, XRD, and thermodynamic calculations, which showed that the solid solution formed without silicon carbide and with silicon carbide was FCC + BCC and BCC respectively. Furthermore, the results of mechanical and corrosion properties showed that the fineness of the grains improved microhardness and wear resistance, and due to the formation of a continuous passive layer caused by silicon carbide powder, the corrosion current density in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution decreased to 0.79 A/cm² and the charge transfer resistance increased to 6810 Ω cm². Also, the sample with a concentration of 20 g/L of silicon carbide in the coating bath has better mechanical and corrosion properties than other samples.