Unveiling the Corrosion, Thermogravimetric and Intermetallic Properties of High Performing, Cu50A125Zn5Sn20 High Entropy Alloy

In an attempt to improve the service life of components, Cu₅₀A1₂₅Zn₅Sn₂₀ series of high entropy alloy was fabricated liquid metallurgical route in various metal atomic distributions. The developed alloy series were subjected to various characterization performances. The corrosion test under 3.65 wt % NaCl solution was performed using linear sweep polarization method. The wear studies and microhardness response were achieved through CETR reciprocating sliding tribometer and an indenter Vickers hardness machine respectively. The Veeco technologically produced thermo-gravimetric analyzer was used for the temperature stability. The impact of the HEA structure modification was determined via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). From the results, it was observed that (Cu₅₀Al₃₅Zn₅Sn₁₀), (Cu₅₀Al₂₅Zn₅Sn₂₀), and (Cu₅₀Al₁₅Zn₁₀Sn₂₅) create better positive corrosion resistance response against the control sample with 0.9327 mm/year. (Cu₅₀Al₂₅Zn₅Sn₂₀) possessed more superior corrosion resistance compared to other samples, with the least CR and jcorr of 0.0423 mm/year and 4.240E–06 A/cm², respectively. The wear study also established that (Cu₅₀Al₂₅Zn₅Sn₂₀) sample possessed an exceptional counter wear response of 2.777E–06 mm³/N/m and 85.4 μm², respectively. In addition, (Cu₅₀Al₃₅Zn₅Sn₁₀) and (Cu₅₀Al₂₅Zn₅Sn₂₀) possessed the lower W_plast. values of 155 382.82 and 149 375.33 pJ, compared to the control sample with the highest W_elast., W_plast. and W_total value of 513 777.08, 1 156 098.06, and 1 669 875.14 pJ, respectively. The thermal stability of the (Cu₅₀Al₂₅Zn₅Sn₂₀) sample was observed between the temperature range of 500–690, 690–720, and 720–750°C. The structure image revealed the presence of few pores and homogeneous pattern. (Cu₅₀Al₂₅Zn₅Sn₂₀) sample was seen to have exhibited higher peak intensities and narrower peak widths with crystal phases of CuSn₂AlZn.