Simultaneously optimizing the strength and ductility of high-entropy alloys by magnetic field-assisted additive manufacturing

The mechanical properties of many metallic materials have been optimized by magnetic field-assisted additive manufacturing, however, there is still a gap in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) in this field, which is not conducive to the control and optimization of the microstructure and properties of HEAs. This work studied the tensile properties of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) CoCrFeMnNi HEA. After applying a magnetic field, the relative density increased, and the grain size became larger and more uniform. Because of amperage force, crystallographic textures gradually change from< 100 > to< 110 > and< 111 >, which contributes to the improvement of tensile properties. Additionally, low-angle grain boundaries and geometrically necessary dislocations decrease, while the Schmidt factor increases. In the results of these changes, most factors contribute to improving the mechanical property, eventually optimizing the strength and ductility simultaneously. This indicates that magnetic field-assisted LPBF is promising to be an important means to optimize the mechanical properties of HEAs.