Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli

MT611 Physical Metallurgy Assignment

Analysis of the dynamic characteristics of high entropy alloys

Ajith kumar, Roll Number:-212121001
1Department, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli – 620015, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

High entropy alloy(HEA) which is a desirable structural member in future is butt welded with Laser Beam Welding process. Due
to precipitation hardening a significant increase in hardness is encountered as we move from base metal to fusion zone.The various
static and fatigue behavior of the program alloy was examined. The reason for such behaviour is also illustrated profoundly.

Keywords: High entropy alloy; fatigue

Laser Beam Welding

1. Introduction

The use of conventional alloys does not provide any furthur development in upgrading world.this promoted the use
of HEA which has a unique characteristic behavior different from ordinary metallic alloys.

The CoCrFeNiMn alloy has single phase fcc structure at austenitic temperature but their strength is not appreciable
at STP. But this characteristic can be enhanced by precipitation hardening.

Although extensive studies have been made in this field of HEA, their dynamic characteristics remain unclear. Datas
pertaining to static tests were readily available while the informations regarding fatigue tests is insufficient.

So in the below study we illustrate dynamic and structure integration characteristic of a laser beam welded HEA.

2.Methods and materials

The CoCrFeNiMn HEA was synthesised by thermite type self propagating high temperature synthesis, performed on
centrifugal SHS setup. The composite elements were taken as oxides and Al powder is used as reducing agent. After
the combustion the Aluminium oxide and the program alloy can be seperated by mechanical means.

Butt joints using laser beams were performed on clean surfaces of the specimen in the inert gas atmosphere.the
autogenous welding is carried out by yettrium fibre laser with a power source around 2kw and with a welding speed
of 5.5m/min.
The alloy composition was illustrated in table 1. Table 1 HEA composition
Materials Percentage
The chemical composition were determined from observation under scanning composition
electron microscope and the hardness variation is determined from vickers hardness Co 19.1
testing machine.
Cr 20
The specimen for tensile test is obtained by electrical discharge machining of the Fe 20.2
welded specimen. For establishing dynamic or fatigue behavior high frequency Ni 19.6
resonance testing machine is employed. A suitable constant stress ratio value is Mn 19.2
maintained through out the experiment. Endurance strength is determined from the Al 0.6
stress value corresponding to 10 million cycles. C 0.9
Si 0.3
S 0.1

Fig. 1. Laser Beam Welding process

3.Result and discussion

3.1 Microstructure

The grain size of the as-sintered alloy was coarse, elongated and on the fusion zone(FZ) the grain is refined. The
most important attribute of the FZ zone is the formation of M7C3 carbides, which appeared as some second phase
particles other than fcc single phase structure of the program alloy.

The dislocation density of LBW portion is more than the as-sintered alloy. This is mainly due to uneven rapid
cooling of HAZ.
3.2 Microhardness and tensile strength

The hardness of the material increases as we move from the base metal to FZ. This hardness increase is attributed to
precipitation hardening due to the formation of M7C3 and to grain refinement.

The other mechanical properties does not change drastically. It rather remains nearly constant. For eg, the
percentage of increase in yeild strength in FZ as compared to base metal is only around 3 percent.

3.3 Dynamic behavior

The fatigue characteristics of LBW specimen in fusion zone(FZ) is similar to that of as-sintered material. This
implies that there is no significant increase or decrease in endurance limit. The SN curve for as-sintered and program
alloy is shown in Figure 2. Fig. 2. S-N curve

As shown in the diagram number of cycles it can withstand

prior to failure increases if the material is subjected to low
stress cycle

HEA materials shows a weak response with respect to fatigue

characteristic if the grain size changes and the important
point to note is that since the FZ and the base metal has the
same strength the quality of weldment obtained by LBW
process is very good.

3.4 Examination of fractured surface

Fracture always occurred in base metal which is attributed to the high strength of FZ. Fatigue fracture is
characterised by clevage faucetwithout any fatigue straiations during crack initiation stage. During crack growth,
fatigue straiations indeed will occur. In some occations, straiations are accompanied by secondary cracking.

Intresting point to note is that carbide particles precipitation does not contribute to fracture as they are absent during
specimen examination after fracture.

3.5 Grain structure after fatigue tests

Fig. 3. Microsturucture after fatigue test
When the stress value to which the material is subjected increases
there is a significant increase in dislocation density due to piling up
of dislocation near the grain boundaries. With furthur increase in
stress value formation of mechanical twinning occurs. In static
loading this kind of behavior will be seen at a higher stress value.
The reason for such behavior is the difference in dislocation
accumulation during static and cyclic loading.
4.conclusion and inference

• High quality butt weld can be produced by welding the HEA with laser welding. There is a significant
increase in hardness as we move from base metal to fusion zone.

• Other mechanical properties such as yeild strength, UTS values remain fairly constant be it FZ or base
metal.

• There is no significant change in dynamic characteristic such as endurance limit. Fracture during fatigue
loading occurred in base metal not the FZ.

• When the stress cycle value increase in twin formation is observed, which is analogous to static loading
behavior at a corresponding higher stress.

5.References

[1]Nikolai Kashaev, Volker Ventzke, Nikita Petrov, Manfred Horstmann, Vladimir Sanin,Sergey Zherebtsov,
Fatigue behaviour of a laser beam welded CoCrFeNiMn-type high entropy alloy, volume 766(2019).