Coating materials made of high-entropy alloys for tribologically highly stressed surfaces

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Thomas Lampke
• Subject Area: Coating and Surface Technology
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 415816419

Beside the further development of classic material concepts, novel alloy systems without a dominating main alloying element offer a promising, scientifically relevant research field with regard to excellent properties of coating systems which are expected to be applicable for highly stressed surfaces. The overarching goal of the proposed project is the investigation of process-microstructure-property relations of high-entropy alloys for the development of thermally sprayed coatings on tribologically highly stressed surfaces. As regards the implementation of the described material concept by means of thermal spraying, the requirements with respect to the chemical composition and homogeneous distribution within the high-entropy alloy represent a great scientific and technical challenge. The powder metallurgical production by atomization appears appropriate to meet these requirements and to provide a feedstock material which is tailor-made for the specific processing conditions of the high-velocity oxygen fuel thermal spray process. The determination of the process time regime considering chemical and structural parameters requires a holistic development approach on the basis of process-material interactions which have to be investigated in the project. The characterization of thermally sprayed coatings, cast ingots and spark plasma-sintered samples facilitates a comparison of the powder metallurgically produced material with the casting process route, especially regarding thermal and atmospheric process conditions. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of the influence of structural parameters as regards surface properties can be gained, therefore establishing a materials science-related basis for applications in the field of surface coating technologies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants