Al_0.5CoCrFeNi₂ High Entropy Alloy Particle Reinforced AZ91 Magnesium Alloy-Based Composite Processed by Spark Plasma...

In this study, AZ91 magnesium-alloy-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with 10 wt% of Al_0.5CoCrFeNi₂ high-entropy alloy (HEA) particles and SiC particles were prepared by a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process at 300 °C. The effects of reinforcements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ91-based MMCs were studied. The results showed that AZ91-HEA composite consisted of α-Mg, Mg₁₇Al₁₂ and FCC phases. No interfacial reaction layer was observed between HEA particles and the Mg matrix. After adding HEA into AZ91, the compressive yield strength (C.Y.S) of the AZ91-HEA composite increased by 17% without degradation of failure strain. In addition, the increment in C.Y.S brought by HEA was comparable to that contributed by commonly used SiC reinforcement (15%). A relatively low porosity in the composite and enhanced interfacial bonding between the α-Mg matrix and HEA particles make HEA a potential reinforcement material in MMCs.