Open Access

Michael Rhode

• Multiple principal element alloys (MPEA) represent a meanwhile widely investigated material class, which encompass high-entropy (HEA) and medium-entropy alloys (MEA). They are fundamentally different from conventional materials like Fe-Cr-Ni-based austenitic steels. However, the focus has been merely on the material synthesis. With the increase in available material quantities, the focus is now shifting to processing issues such as joining and welding. In this context, the weldability of MPEAs has received very little attention so far. In addition, MPEA/HEA/MEA are and will be expensive due to the alloying concept. From this point of view, also such materials will also have to be joined with other conventional materials like austenitic steels. In particular, there is a lack of experience with dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) and the corresponding mechanical properties. For this reason, the present study summarizes comprehensive experimental results on equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi (HEA) andMultiple principal element alloys (MPEA) represent a meanwhile widely investigated material class, which encompass high-entropy (HEA) and medium-entropy alloys (MEA). They are fundamentally different from conventional materials like Fe-Cr-Ni-based austenitic steels. However, the focus has been merely on the material synthesis. With the increase in available material quantities, the focus is now shifting to processing issues such as joining and welding. In this context, the weldability of MPEAs has received very little attention so far. In addition, MPEA/HEA/MEA are and will be expensive due to the alloying concept. From this point of view, also such materials will also have to be joined with other conventional materials like austenitic steels. In particular, there is a lack of experience with dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) and the corresponding mechanical properties. For this reason, the present study summarizes comprehensive experimental results on equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi (HEA) and CoCrNi (MEA), joined by solid-state friction stir welding (FSW) to an austenitic steel AISI 304. The mechanical properties were obtained by cross-weld tensile tests. For the first time (for these welding process and materials), the local strains in the different weld microstructures were measured in-situ by digital image correlation (DIC). A significant influence of the FSW process on both the resulting microstructure and the mechanical performance of the DWMs was identified. For example, the dynamic recrystallization plays a significant role in the performance of the welded joint. In addition, the FSW experiments proofed the weldability of both MPEAs when joined to austenitic steel AISI 304. This allows for further focused consideration of these highly innovative MPEAs.…