New composite-structured high-entropy alloys designed based on the mixing enthalpy and valence electron concentration

This paper investigates a simple and feasible pseudo-binary approach for creating composite-structured high-entropy alloys (CSHEAs), based on two important parameters: mixing enthalpy (ΔH_mix) and valence electron concentration (VEC). By employing this method, a series of CSHEAs (CoCrCuFe₂Ni₂Si, CoCrCuFeNi₂Si and CoCrCu_1.5FeNi₂Si) composed of intermetallic compounds and face centred cubic (FCC) phase were successfully synthesized through vacuum arc melting route. Elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the intermetallic compound is enriched in Ni-Si, while the face-centred cubic phase is composed of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Ni. All the alloys employed possess outstanding hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. The design parameters that were previously provided for the high-entropy alloys with a composite structure are in good agreement with the current research. This pseudo-binary approach presents a viable approach to the design of CSHEAs with customized properties, enabling opportunities for the creation of cutting-edge materials with improved performance.