Refractory multi-principal element alloys (RMPEAs), HfNbTaTiZr, (HfNbTaTiZr)9Cr and (HfNbTaTiZr)9Al, were manufactured using vacuum arc melting followed by laser-remelting to mimic additive manufacturing. The microhardness of as-cast HfNbTaTiZr, (HfNbTaTiZr)9Cr and (HfNbTaTiZr)9Al samples after arc melting was measured as 6.20, 7.63 and 6.89 GPa, respectively. After laser-remelting and re-solidification, the hardness increased by ~30% for each composition; the hardest was (HfNbTaTiZr)9Cr measured at 9.60 GPa, and the softest was HfNbTaTiZr with a hardness of 8.42 GPa, which was still harder compared to all the as-cast samples. The addition of Al and Cr led to enhanced oxidation resistance for the respective RMPEA systems. The Al-containing composition showed the best oxidation resistance for the as-cast samples; however, after laser remelting, the Cr-containing RMPEA had the best overall oxidation resistance, and the increase in weight after oxidation dropped by 42% when compared to that for the as-cast alloy. Laser remelting the RMPEAs led to an improvement in mechanical properties; it also resulted in enhanced oxidation resistance for (HfNbTaTiZr)9Cr. However, laser remelting barely changed the oxidation resistance for (HfNbTaTiZr)9Al, and it decreased the oxidation resistance for HfNbTaTiZr. These phenomena are related to microstructure changes induced by the laser remelting/additive manufacturing as compared to conventional casting-based manufacturing.
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A 3D printable alloy designed for extreme environments
Abstract Multiprincipal-element alloys are an enabling class of materials owing to their impressive mechanical and oxidation-resistant properties, especially in extreme environments1,2. Here we develop a new oxide-dispersion-strengthened NiCoCr-based alloy using a model-driven alloy design approach and laser-based additive manufacturing. This oxide-dispersion-strengthened alloy, called GRX-810, uses laser powder bed fusion to disperse nanoscale Y2O3particles throughout the microstructure without the use of resource-intensive processing steps such as mechanical or in situ alloying3,4. We show the successful incorporation and dispersion of nanoscale oxides throughout the GRX-810 build volume via high-resolution characterization of its microstructure. The mechanical results of GRX-810 show a twofold improvement in strength, over 1,000-fold better creep performance and twofold improvement in oxidation resistance compared with the traditional polycrystalline wrought Ni-based alloys used extensively in additive manufacturing at 1,093 °C5,6. The success of this alloy highlights how model-driven alloy designs can provide superior compositions using far fewer resources compared with the ‘trial-and-error’ methods of the past. These results showcase how future alloy development that leverages dispersion strengthening combined with additive manufacturing processing can accelerate the discovery of revolutionary materials.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2323717
- PAR ID:
- 10543630
- Editor(s):
- NA
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Nature
- Volume:
- 617
- Issue:
- 7961
- ISSN:
- 0028-0836
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 513 to 518
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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