High entropy alloy manufactured by SLM: characterization and development

The aim of this study was to investigate an alternative manufacturing process to produce a High Entropy Alloy (HEA) starting from mechanically prealloyed powders, compared to the arc and induction melting. In this work the microstructural developments of the equimolar CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy processed by SLM were studied. The influence of process parameters and powders properties on the microstructure was characterized. X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS semi-compositive investigations carried out on the HEA revealed a single crystalline structure (FCC). Preliminary evaluations of the mechanical properties showed higher microhardness values compared to the same alloy produced with conventional manufacturing processes, due to the finer microstructure morphology, the high dislocation density near subgrain and the precipitation of fine particles.