Effect of Ni on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of CrMnFeCoNi High Entropy Alloy

The effect of Ni content on microstructure and mechanical properties of the CrMnFeCoNi high entropy alloy (HEA) has been studied. The Ni content varied from 0 to 20 at% in the composition (CrMnFeMn)(100-x)Ni-x, where x = 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 at%. The alloys were synthesized by vacuum arc melting and the microstructure as well as hardness of the as-cast alloys were studied. Alloys with low Ni content (x <= 2.5%) consists of a two-phase microstructure of dendritic and inter-dendritic regions with fcc (matrix) and tetragonal (sigma) crystal structure, respectively. When the Ni content is 5 at%, two-phase structure with fcc (matrix) and bcc (secondary phase) is observed, with the addition of Mn-rich inclusions that are present in the entire matrix. Alloys with higher Ni content (x >= 10, at%) exhibit a single phase of fcc structure. Hardness of the HEAs decreases from 320 to 120 Hv with increase in Ni content, and the high hardness of these alloys with low Ni content is due to the mixture of both fcc and hard tetragonal (sigma) phases.