Laser metal deposition of a refractory TiZrNbHfTa high-entropy alloy

Abstract

Refractory elements have high melting points and are difficult to melt and cast. In this study it is successfully demonstrated for the first time that laser metal deposition can be used to produce TiZrNbHfTa high-entropy alloy from a blend of elemental powders by in-situ alloying. Columnar specimens with a height of 10 mm and a diameter of 3 mm were deposited with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. The built-up specimen has near-equiatomic composition, nearly uniform grain size, equiaxed grain shape, is bcc single phase and exhibits a high hardness of 509 HV0.2.