Microstructures and hardness of BCC phase iron-based high entropy alloy Fe-Mn-Cr-V-Al-C

Wakai, Eiichi  ; Noto, Hiroyuki*; Shibayama, Tamaki*; Furuya, Kazuyuki*; Ando, Masami*; Kamada, Takaharu*; Ishida, Taku*; Makimura, Shunsuke*

The microstructures and mechanical properties of bcc iron-based high entropy alloy (HEA) Fe-20Mn-15Cr-10V-10Al-2.5C (in at%) without Co and Ni elements have been investigated for applications in fields such as accelerator-target system, nuclear reactors and magnetic motors in aircraft and automobiles. This alloy was normalized at 1150C for 2 hr and then water quenched, and it was heated at 800C for 10 min and then water quenched. The alloy had a bcc-phase and vanadium carbides with 2-3 m arranging along grain boundaries, and the Vickers hardness was 520 Hv, harder than pure tungsten. Magnetic domain structure was observed in phase differential contrast method in scanning transmission electron microscope, and the micro-size magnetic domains in grain and sub micro size ones were formed near surface, and it is attractive to the magnetic motor field application. Element distribution in nano scale (20 nm) was observed in matrix, and the presence of crystal lattice disorder in the atomic level region was seen. Very high performance for radiation resistance was confirmed with no irradiation hardening at 300 and 500 C to 1 dpa. It can be speculated that this is due to irradiation-induced nanoscale concentration changes and strain relaxation in the HEA. These properties are very attractive in application of several fields.