Sustainable low-cost method for production of High entropy alloys from alloy scraps

TL;DR

This paper introduces a sustainable, low-cost method called Alloy mixing for producing high entropy alloys from alloy scraps, demonstrated with a CrCuFeMnNi alloy, showing comparable microstructure to conventional methods.

Contribution

It presents a novel alloy recycling technique that uses alloy scraps and vacuum arc melting to produce high entropy alloys efficiently and sustainably.

Findings

Alloy mixing successfully produces high entropy alloys from scraps.

The microstructure of the recycled alloy matches that of conventionally produced alloys.

The method offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional alloy production.

Abstract

In this communication,we propose a sustainable way to produce high entropy alloys from alloy scraps called Alloy mixing.We successfully demonstrate this method using a near equimolar CrCuFeMnNi HEA. Alloy scraps (304L stainless steel, Nichrome 80 and electrical wire grade Copper) obtained from various sources were melted together using vacuum arc melting along with minor additions of Mn and Cr to achieve the equiatomic composition.The alloy was characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy, which confirmed that the alloy produced through Alloy mixing exhibits a microstructure similar to that of the alloy with the same composition produced through conventional melting of pure elements