Thermal stability of electron beam welded AlCoCrFeNi 2.1 alloy

AlCoCrFeNi 2.1 alloy, which belongs to the group of eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs), possesses a combination of increased strength and ductility. It should retain these properties over a wide temperature range due to the high entropy effect of the system. At the same time, eutectic alloys are generally considered to have good castability, which increases the possibility of casting the alloy in larger volumes. One of the processes, that the alloy does not avoid when applied in industry, are the various joining techniques including electron beam welding. The weld area is often in a non-equilibrium state, which increases the risk of failure during operation. The paper therefore discusses the stability of the microstructure and mechanical properties of AlCoCrFeNi 2.1 alloy when exposed to short-term elevated temperatures. The material heated at 900 °C for 1 h in a vacuum furnace was observed using light and electron microscopy, analyzed for chemical and phase composition and finally subjected to HV0.1 hardness measurement and tensile strength test. The resulting condition was compared with the welded joint before exposure to elevated temperature. The microstructure of the weld was formed by a fine lamellar eutectic over the entire observed area. EBSD analysis confirmed the presence of a combination of FCC and BCC phases. The material hardness reached an average value of 370 HV0.1. Maximum tensile strength of the weld joint was measured at 944 MPa with the corresponding displacement of the crosshead 6.1 mm. The welded joint demonstrated sufficient stability and the ability to withstand short-term severe elevated temperature conditions.