Fabrication and properties of Ti(C,N)-based cermets with multi-component AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys binder

Abstract In this study, Ti(C,N)-based cermets with AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloys binder were successfully fabricated by mechanical alloying and low pressure sintering. The results indicate that the presence of the outer rim phase is not obvious, and two different types of binder phase existed in the microstructure. From X-ray diffraction patterns, it demonstrates that the alloy is composed mainly of Ti(C,N) and single face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solution binder phase. The cermet with AlCoCrFeNi HEAs binder showed a considerably improved microstructure and achieves the co-enhancement of hardness and toughness. The novel material exhibits a high Vickers hardness of 1787 MPa, along with a good fracture toughness value of 11.4 MPa m1/2.