Founding Research Journal

Founding Research Journal

Synthesis and Characterization of Lightweight Al35Mg35Mn2Sn8Zn20‎‏ ‏Entropic Alloy

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors
1 MSc, Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.‎
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran.‎
10.22034/frj.2023.418420.1186
Abstract
Entropic lightweight alloys are a category of lightweight alloys that have recently gained attention. The main characteristic of these alloys is their high hardness compared to standard lightweight alloys. In this study, a new entropic alloy with Al35Mg35Mn2Sn8Zn20 (in atomic percentage) composition was produced and characterized. The alloy was synthesized in an induction furnace. The casting process was performed in three molds including preheated mold, non-preheated mold, and water-cooled mold. The results showed that the microstructure of the alloy consists of a high volume fraction of intermetallic compounds Mg32(Al,Zn)49, Mg2Sn, Al6Mn, and Al4Mn, along with a solid solution of Al. Approximately 50% of the volume fraction in all three samples consists of a eutectic structure of Al/Mg32(Al,Zn)49. After the eutectic structure, the phases of pre-eutectic Mg32(Al,Zn)49, Mg2Sn, and intermetallic Al-Mn compounds have the highest volume fraction in the microstructure respectively. Increasing the cooling rate results in a reduction in the size of the phases. The hardness values for the samples frozen in preheated mold, non-preheated mold, and water-cooled mold were measured as 199.17, 227.14, and 237.63 Vickers, respectively, which is much higher than the hardness of standard cast aluminum alloys.
Keywords
Subjects

[1] Zhang W. and Xu J., Advanced lightweight materials for Automobiles: A review, Materials Design, 2022, 221, 110994.
[2] Emadi P., Andilab B. and Ravindran C., Engineering lightweight Aluminum and Magnesium alloys for a sustainable future, Journal of Indian Institute of Science, 2022, 102, 405–420.
[3] Siengchin S., A review on lightweight materials for defense applications: Present and future developments, Defense Technology, 2023, 24, 1–17.
[4] Buling A. and Zerrer J., Unknown tribological possibilities - Wear resistance for light metals by PEO, hybrid, and laser functionalized surface solutions, Wear, 2023, 523, 204825.
[5] Yeh J. W., Chen S. K., Lin S. J., Gan J. Y., Chin T. S., Shun T. T., Tsau C. H. and Chang S. Y., Nanostructured high-entropy alloys with multiple principal elements: Novel alloy design concepts and outcomes, Advanced Engineering Materials, 2004, 6, 299–303.
[6] Miracle D. B.  and Senkov O. N., A critical review of high entropy alloys and related concepts, Acta Materialia, 2017, 122, 448–511.
[7] Yeh J. W., Alloy design strategies and future trends in high-entropy alloys, JOM, 2013, 65, 1759–1771.
[8] Edalati P., Mohammadi A., Ketabchi M. and Edalati K., Ultrahigh hardness in nanostructured dual-phase high-entropy alloy AlCrFeCoNiNb developed by high-pressure torsion, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2021, 884, 161101.
[9] Wang Z., Li J., Yang Y., Pang L., Liu M., Li H., Liu Q., Fu B., Guo Y. and Wang Z., A novel high-entropy alloy with exceptional strength and elongation via bimodal grains and lamellar nano-precipitates, Materials Science and Engineering A, 2023, 870, 144851.
[10] Chen P., Lee C., Wang S.-Y., Seifi M., Lewandowski J. J., Dahmen K. A., Jia H., Xie X., Chen B., Yeh J. W., Tsai C.-W., Yuan T. and Liaw P. K., Fatigue behavior of high-entropy alloys: A review, Science China Technological Sciences, 2018, 61, 168–178.
[11] Shi Y., Yang B. and Liaw P. K., Corrosion-resistant high-entropy alloys: A review, Metals, 2017, 7, 1–18.
[12]         Jeong I.S., Lee J.H., Single-phase lightweight high-entropy alloys with enhanced mechanical properties, Materials & Design, 2023, 227, 111709.
[13]         Xiong W., Cheng L., Zhan S., Guo A.X.Y., Liaw P.K., Cao S.C., Recent advances on lightweight high-entropy alloys: Process, design, and applications, High Entropy Alloys & Materials, 2023. doi:10.1007/s44210-023-00014-y.
[14] Feng R., Gao M. C., Lee C., Mathes M., Zuo T., Chen S., Hawk J. A., Zhang Y. and Liaw P. K., Design of light-weight high-entropy alloys, Entropy, 2016, 18, 16–29.
[15] Kumar A. and Gupta M., An insight into evolution of light weight high entropy alloys: A review, Metals, 2016, 6, 199.
[16] Li R., Gao J. C. and Fan K., Study to microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg containing high entropy alloys, Materials Science Forum, 2010, 650, 265–271.
[17] Youssef K. M., Zaddach A. J., Niu C., Irving D. L. and Koch C. C., A novel low-density, high-hardness, high-entropy alloy with close-packed single-phase nanocrystalline structures, Materials Research Letters, 2014, 3, 95–99.
[18] Tseng K. K., Yang Y. C., Juan C. C., Chin T. S., Tsai C. W. and Yeh J. W., A light-weight high-entropy alloy Al20Be20Fe10Si15Ti35, Science China Technological Sciences, 2018, 61, 184–188.
[19] Sanchez J. M., Vicaro I., Albizuri J., Guraya T., Koval N. E. and Garcia J. C., Compound formation and microstructure of as-cast high entropy aluminums, Metals, 2018, 8, 167.
[20] Sanchez J. M., Vicario I., Albizuri J., Guraya T. and Garcia J. C., Phase prediction, microstructure and high hardness of novel light-weight high entropy alloys, Journal of Materials Research and Technology, 2019, 8, 795–803.
[21] Chauhan P., Yebaji S., Nadakuduru V.N., Shanmugasundaram T., Development of a novel light weight Al35Cr14Mg6Ti35V10 high entropy alloy using mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2020, 820, 153367.
[22]         Chae M.J., Sharma A., Oh M.C., Ahn B., Lightweight AlCuFeMnMgTi high entropy alloy with high strength-to-density ratio processed by powder metallurgy, Metals and Materials International, 2021, 27, 629–638.
[23] Liang P., Tarfa T., Robinson J. A., Wagner S., Ochin P., Harmelin M. G., Seifert H. J., Lukas H. L. and Aldinger F., Experimental investigation and thermodynamic calculation of the Al-Mg-Zn system, Thermochimica  Acta, 1998, 314, 87–110.
[24] Wang L., Yao C., Shen J., Zhang Y., Liu G., Wu X. and Zhang G., A new method to design eutectic high-entropy alloys by determining the formation of single-phase solid solution and calculating solidification paths, Materials Science and Engineering A, 2022, 830, 142325.
[25] Lan X., Li K., Wang J., Lu Q., Yang T., Xiao Y. and Du Y., Preparation of ultra-large intermetallic particles in Al alloys for accurate determination of their mechanical properties, Intermetallics, 2023, 152, 107771.
[26] Castillo-Hernandez G., Yasseri M., Klobes B., Ayachi S., Müller E. and Boor J., Room and high temperature mechanical properties of Mg2Si, Mg2Sn and their solid solutions, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2020, 845, 156205.
[27] Zhu X., Liu F., Wang S. and Ji S., The development of low-temperature heat-treatable high-pressure die-cast Al–Mg–Fe–Mn alloys with Zn, Journal of Materials Science, 2021, 56, 11083–11097.
[28] Sun W., Huang X. and Luo A. A., Phase formations in low density high entropy alloys, Calphad, 2017, 56, 19–28.
[29] Ilbagi A., Delshad Khatibi P., Henein H., Lengsdorf R. and Herlach D. M., Effect of cooling rate on solidification of Al-Ni alloys, Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2011, 327, 012010.
[30] Chen R., Shi Y., Xu Q. and Liu B., Effect of cooling rate on solidification parameters and microstructure of Al-7Si-0.3Mg-0.15Fe alloy, Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2014, 24, 1645–1652.
[31] Tabor D., The physical meaning of indentation and scratch hardness, British Journal of Applied Physics, 1956, 7, 159–166.
Volume 7, Issue 1 - Serial Number 22
Spring and Summer
Spring 2023
Pages 25-34

  • Receive Date 28 September 2023
  • Revise Date 06 November 2023
  • Accept Date 09 November 2023