Abstract

The development of high-performance materials capable of resisting wear under wide temperature ranges remains a challenge. In this work, TiVNiWx (x = 1, 0.5, 0.2) compositionally complex alloys (CCAs) were developed via negative mixing enthalpy (Delta H-mix) compositional design and consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS), enabling thermodynamically driven phase separation under rapid non-equilibrium conditions. The alloys exhibit a multiscale heterogeneity (ranging from nanometers to micrometers), including coherent dual BCC phases, Ti-rich HCP regions,eta-Ni3Ti precipitates, and nanoscale precipitates. This cross-scale structure activates synergistic strengthening mechanisms (including solid solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening and hetero-deformation induced hardening), resulting in high macro-hardness (similar to 12.1 GPa). Among them, the TiV-NiW0.5 alloy exhibits superior wear resistance from 25 to 600 degrees C due to optimized phase constitution and formation of stable tribo-layers.

Keywords Plus: HIGH-ENTROPY ALLOYS

Published in TRIBOLOGY INTERNATIONAL,Volume214;10.1016/j.triboint.2025.111114, FEB 2026