The microstructure and properties of Mo0.5NbTiZrTax high entropy alloys enhanced by Ta addition

In this study, the Mo0.5NbTiZrTax (x = 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) HEAs obtained by arc melting were controlled by the change of Ta content. The microstructure, the wear properties, and the corrosion resistance of the alloys were studied systematically. The results revealed that the alloys have the BCC (major) phase + BCC (minor) phase structure. At the same time, the increase in Ta content promotes the refinement of grains and the formation of sub-grains with gradually random orientation at grain boundaries but suppresses the randomization of crystal orientation. This also enriched the defect structure inside the alloys, further induced the formation of Zr-rich second phase particles, high-density stacking fault structures, and disordered Zr-rich BCC phases. The increase in Ta content significantly improved the wear properties of the alloys, which is mainly ascribed to the presence of the tough BCC phase and the combined effects of solid solution strengthening, second phase strengthening, fine grain strengthening, lattice distortion effect, and stacking fault strengthening. The electrochemical measurements confirm that the overall corrosion resistance of the alloys shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of Ta content due to the formation of micro batteries between the second phase rich in Zr as the anode and dendrites.