Microstructure and Properties of AlxCoCrFeNi2.1 High Entropy Alloy by Laser Cladding

LI Huaibo, WANG Zile, ZENG Daxin, YANG Wei, SHI Qiuyue

Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (1) : 215-223.

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (1) : 215-223. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.020
High-Entropy Alloy and Amorphous Alloy Forming

Microstructure and Properties of AlxCoCrFeNi2.1 High Entropy Alloy by Laser Cladding

  • LI Huaibo, WANG Zile, ZENG Daxin*, YANG Wei, SHI Qiuyue
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Abstract

The work aims to investigate the influence of Al content on the microstructure and properties of laser cladding AlxCoCrFeNi2.1 high entropy alloy on H13 steel, so as to provide a reference for the application of high entropy alloy in surface strengthening and additive repair of hot work dies. An AlxCoCrFeNi2.1 (1.00≤x≤1.75) high-entropy alloy coating was prepared on the H13 steel substrate by coaxial powder feeding laser cladding. The microstructure of the coating was examined by OM, XRD, SEM, EDS and EBSD, the hardness of the coating was tested, and the thermal stability of the coating was analyzed. The results showed that the coating was composed of FCC phases and BCC phases, there were more FCC phases in the first layer than in the second layer, and FCC phases decreased as the Al content increased. The microstructure of the coating changed with the variation of the Al content. When x increased from 1.0 to 1.3, the first layer transformed from columnar FCC phases with BCC phases distributed among its intergranular to columnar BCC phases with FCC phases distributed among its intergranular. The second layer changed from the lamellar eutectic structure with alternating FCC and BCC phases to cellular BCC phases with FCC phases distributed among its intergranular. The hardness of the coating increased with the increase of the Al content. When annealing at 500-800 ℃, the hardness of the coating first increased and then decreased with the increase of temperature. The hardness reached the maximum at 700 ℃, and it reached 479.7HV when x=1.3. After holding for 6 h at 700 ℃ and 800 ℃, the hardness of the coating was significantly higher than that of the H13 steel substrate. In conclusion, increasing the Al content in the AlxCoCrFeNi2.1 alloy coating leads to a rise in the BCC phase fraction within the coating, accompanied by an elevation in hardness. Annealing at 700 ℃ significantly enhances the coating's hardness. The thermal stability of the coating is better than that of H13 steel.

Key words

laser cladding / high entropy alloy / H13 steel / AlxCoCrFeNi2.1 / microstructure / thermal stability

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LI Huaibo, WANG Zile, ZENG Daxin, YANG Wei, SHI Qiuyue. Microstructure and Properties of AlxCoCrFeNi2.1 High Entropy Alloy by Laser Cladding[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2026, 18(1): 215-223 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2026.01.020

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