Production of New Aluminum-Based High-Entropy Light Alloy Al49Zn13Cu11Ni10Si9Mg8 by Conventional Casting Method and Investigation of Some Material Properties of this Alloy

Abstract In this study, considering various criteria presented in the literature regarding the requirements for being a high-entropy alloy, a new aluminum-based high-entropy light alloy was designed. The designed Al 49 Zn 13 Cu 11 Ni 10 Si 9 Mg 8 alloy was produced by conventional induction furnace melting and permanent mold casting method. Its structural, mechanical, tribological, and corrosion properties were investigated. Phases in the alloy’s microstructure were determined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microhardness measurements of the phases were carried out using the Vickers method. The mechanical properties of the alloy were determined by hardness and compression tests, and its tribological properties were investigated using a ball-on-disk friction and wear test setup. Corrosion properties of the alloy were investigated using an electrochemical experimental setup. It was observed that the microstructure of the alloy was composed of α(Al-Zn-Cu), ε(CuZn 4 ), γ(Cu 5 Zn 8 ), θ(Al 2 Cu), (Al 3 Ni), Q(Al 5 Cu 2 Mg 8 Si 6 ), and Si phases. The microhardness of the aluminum-rich α phase was measured as 178.9 HV, the microhardness of the Al 3 Ni phase was 862.2 HV, the microhardness of the Q phase was 565.2 HV, and the microhardness of the Si phase was 1106.4 HV. The hardness, compressive strength, and wear volume of the alloy were measured as 353.3 HV, 743 MPa, and 0.017479 mm 3 , respectively. The results obtained from the mechanical and tribological tests of the alloy were explained based on its structural properties. The results obtained in the study were compared with some entropy alloys in the literature and examined.