Microstructure and mechanical properties of borided CoCrFeNiAl0.25Ti0.5 high entropy alloy produced by powder metallurgy

CoCrFeNiAl0.25Ti0.5 high entropy alloy alloys (HEA), produced by powder metallurgy were subjected to boriding to improve their mechanical properties. Sintering was carried out at 1200 degrees C for 2 h in Ar, and boriding was performed at 900, 1000 and 1100 degrees C for 2 h using a 90 wt% B4C + 10 wt% NaBF4 boriding powder mixture. Microstructures, densities, surface roughnesses, and mechanical properties (hardness, fracture toughness and nanoindentation responses) of the samples were investigated. FCC, BCC and sigma phases had been observed after sintering, whereas complex metal borides were formed on the surfaces after boriding. Relative density values were between 85% and 90%. Significant increases in surface hardness were observed after boriding due to formation of hard, silicide-free boride layers. The boride layer thickness and hardness increased with increasing boriding temperature. The elastic modulus of the surface of the sintered sample (47.07 GPa) increased with the boriding process to values in the range of 140-151 GPa. Fracture toughness values between 3.57 and 4.25 MPa m(1/2) were obtained in borided samples, and increasing the boriding temperature reduced the fracture toughness.