Nanomaterials (Jun 2024)

High-Entropy Alloy Activating Laves-Phase Network for Multi-Component Metallic Coatings with High Hardness

  • Ao Yan,
  • Guoxing Chen,
  • Huiqiang Ying,
  • Xiao Yang,
  • Zongde Kou,
  • Song Tang,
  • Longlong Fan,
  • Xiang Chen,
  • He Zhu,
  • Zhiguang Zhu,
  • Yang Ren,
  • Si Lan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14121016
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 12
p. 1016

Abstract

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The low hardness and poor wear resistance of laser-cladding 316L stainless steel impose significant constraints on its practical applications. In this study, a strategy for strengthening laser-cladding 316L stainless steel with WMoTaNb refractory high-entropy alloy as a reinforcement material is proposed. The results confirm that the coating primarily comprises a body-centered cubic (BCC) Fe-based solid solution, a network-distributed hexagonal Fe2X (X = W, Mo, Ta, and Nb) Laves phase, and a diffusely distributed face-centered cubic (FCC) (Ta, Nb)C phase. The Fe-based solid solution distributes along columnar and fine dendrites, while the Laves phase and (Ta, Nb)C phase are in the inter-dendrites. The presence of a significant number of network Laves phases exhibiting high strength and hardness is the primary factor contributing to the enhancement of coating microhardness. The hardness of the composite coating is increased by nearly twice compared to that of the 316L coating, resulting in an improved wear resistance. The present work can shed light on designing and fabricating 316L stainless steel coating with enhanced hardness and wear resistance.

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