Micro-mechanical properties of new alternative binders for cemented carbides: CoCrFeNiW_x high-entropy alloys

High-entropy alloys are a new type of materials with excellent properties that offer a great variety of possibilities due to the large degree of freedom in element composition. In particular, CoCrFeNiW alloys have recently attracted a lot of attention due to their potential use in solving the long-standing problem of substituting cobalt in the cemented carbide industry. The lack of experimental and theoretical studies on these multi-components alloys hinders their optimal development. In this work, we aim at filling in this gap by studying their mechanical properties employing first-principles alloy theory and experimental techniques. By using the calculated elastic parameters, we analyzed the mechanical stability, elastic anisotropy, Debye temperature, and derived polycrystalline moduli. Moreover, we fabricated CoCrFeNi and (CoCrFeNi)_0.96W_0.04 and analyzed them by means of X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction. The hardness and the Young's modulus were measured. The Young's moduli and the lattice parameters were compared to first principles calculations and good agreement was obtained. Hardness increases with the increment of W composition.