Investigation of microfriction properties of graphene/AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy

Applying graphene (Gr) coatings to high-entropy alloys (HEA) is anticipated to enhance their tribological characteristics. The current understanding of the mechanism by which the Gr/HEA is enhanced at the atomic level is still limited. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the mechanical behavior and strengthening mechanism of the Gr/AlCoCrFeNi HEA during nanoindentation and nanoscratch. The results demonstrate a substantial increase in the indentation hardness of the Gr/AlCoCrFeNi HEA by about 2.4 times. When Gr changed from a single layer to three layers, it further improved (3.2 times for a double layer and 3.9 times for three layers). At the same time, the friction coefficient is effectively reduced. Furthermore, the elevated in-plane stiffness of the Gr coating leads to an expansion of the effective loading area, resulting in increased Shockley dislocation and stair-rod dislocation density within the Gr/AlCoCrFeNi HEA, thereby amplifying the strain hardening effect and reducing subsurface damage. Qualitative experiments confirmed the excellent wear resistance of the Gr/HEA, and coating Gr increased the width of scratches, effectively confirming our simulation results. These findings provide valuable insights for the development and design of Gr/HEA composite coatings with enhanced mechanical properties.