Microstructure, some mechanical properties and tribocorrosion wear behavior of boronized Al(0.07)Co(1.26)Cr(1.80)Fe(1.42)Mn1.35Ni1.10 high entropy alloy

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) with face-centered cubic (FCC) structures exhibit high toughness and corrosion resistance, but their average strengths and relatively low wear resistance can limit their engineering ap-plications. In this study, FCC Al0.07Co1.26Cr1.80Fe1.42Mn1.35Ni1.10 HEAs were boronized for 4 h at temperatures of 900, 950, and 1000 degrees C to form hard, protective metal borides on their surfaces. The microstructural characteristics of the borides formed were examined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the boride layers were studied by nanoindentation measurements, and the tribological performances of the layers were evaluated by ball-on -disk type wear tests in air, 3.5% NaCl and 5% H2SO4. Irrespective of the boronizing temperature, (Fe0.4Mn0.6) B, (Cr0.4Mn0.6)B, (CoFe)B2 and Cr2Ni3B6 phases were detected in the surfaces of the boronized samples. The surface hardnesses of the boronized samples reached nearly ten times the hardness of the as-cast HEA. The borides were effective in reducing friction as well as wear. Increasing the boronizing temperature increased the thicknesses of the coatings and further improved wear characteristics. Wear rates in 5% H2SO4 were generally higher than the wear rates in 3.5% NaCl, but the highest wear rates were observed in air. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.