Effect of solidification on microstructure and properties of FeCoNi(AlSi)_0.2 high-entropy alloy under strong static magnetic field

Strong static magnetic field (SSMF) is a unique way to regulate the microstructure and improve the properties of materials. FeCoNi(AlSi)_0.2 alloy is a novel class of soft magnetic materials (SMMs) designed based on high-entropy alloy (HEA) concepts. In this study, a strong static magnetic field is introduced to tune the microstructure, mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties of FeCoNi(AlSi)_0.2 high-entropy alloy. Results indicate that, with the increasing magnetic field intensity, the Vickers hardness and the saturation magnetization (M_s) increase firstly, and then decrease and reach the maximum at 5T, while the yield strength, the residual magnetization (M_r) and the coercivity (H_c) take the opposite trend. The resistivity values (ρ) are found to be enhanced by the increasing magnetic field intensity. The main reasons for the magnetic field on the above effects are interpreted by microstructure evolution (phase species and volume fraction), atomic-level structure and defects (vacancy and dislocation density).