A Nitride-Reinforced NbMoTaWHfN Refractory High-Entropy Alloy with Potential Ultra-High-Temperature Engineering Applications

Yixing Wan; Yanhai Cheng; Yongxiong Chen; Zhibin Zhang; Yanan Liu; Haijun Gong; Baolong Shen; Xiubing Liang

doi:10.1016/j.eng.2023.06.008

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Engineering ›› 2023, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (11) : 110-120. DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2023.06.008

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A Nitride-Reinforced NbMoTaWHfN Refractory High-Entropy Alloy with Potential Ultra-High-Temperature Engineering Applications

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Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have promising applications as the new generation of high-temperature alloys in hypersonic vehicles, aero-engines, gas turbines, and nuclear power plants. This study focuses on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the NbMoTaW(HfN)_x (x = 0, 0.3, 0.7, and 1.0) RHEAs. The alloys consist of multiple phases of body-centered cubic (BCC), hafnium nitride (HfN), or multicomponent nitride (MN) phases. As the x contents increase, the grain size becomes smaller, and the strength gradually increases. The compressive yield strengths of the NbMoTaWHfN RHEA at ambient temperature, 1000, 1400, and 1800 °C were found to be 1682, 1192, 792, and 288 MPa, respectively. The high-temperature strength of this alloy is an inspiring result that exceeds the high temperature and strength of most known alloys, including high-entropy alloys, refractory metals, and superalloys. The HfN phase has a significant effect on strengthening due to its high structural stability and sluggish grain coarsening, even at ultra-high temperatures. Its superior properties endow the NbMoTaWHfN RHEA with potential for a wide range of engineering applications at ultra-high temperatures. This work offers a strategy for the design of high-temperature alloys and proposes an ultra-high-temperature alloy with potential for future engineering applications.

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Refractory high-entropy alloy / High temperature / Mechanical property / Microstructure / Strengthening mechanism

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Yixing Wan, Yanhai Cheng, Yongxiong Chen, Zhibin Zhang, Yanan Liu, Haijun Gong, Baolong Shen, Xiubing Liang. A Nitride-Reinforced NbMoTaWHfN Refractory High-Entropy Alloy with Potential Ultra-High-Temperature Engineering Applications. Engineering, 2023, 30(11): 110‒120 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2023.06.008

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Funding

the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFE0201600, 2018YFC1902400); the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51975582); the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions