Investigation of medium entropy alloys obtained by electric arc welding with powder wires

In modern conditions of intensive technology development and constantly increasing requirements for materials in industry, there is an urgent need to develop fundamentally new metal alloys with special performance properties. Classical materials, including various grades of steels, aluminum and titanium alloys, in many cases no longer meet modern standards in such key parameters as strength, wear resistance, corrosion and thermal stability. In this context, multicomponent alloys with an increased entropy component containing five or more basic elements in close atomic ratios are of particular importance. Due to the unique effect of high configuration entropy, these materials have a number of outstanding physico-chemical characteristics: increased mechanical strength, exceptional resistance to oxidation at high temperatures, as well as excellent wear resistance. However, significant technological difficulties in obtaining high-entropy alloys, combined with the high cost of the initial components necessary to create equal-atomic compositions, have led to increased scientific interest in the study of alloys with an average entropy level (SES), which represent a more affordable alternative. This paper considers the development and investigation of a multicomponent alloy of the Cr-Ni-Co-Fe-Mo system, obtained by electric arc welding using specialized powder wire. The main attention is paid to the study of microstructural features, the distribution of microhardness, and the determination of nonmetallic inclusions in the deposited layer. The choice of this system of elements is due to their complementary properties: chromium (Cr) provides increased corrosion resistance, nickel (Ni) improves ductility and heat resistance, cobalt (Co) increases heat resistance, iron (Fe) serves as the base of the alloy, and molybdenum (Mo) promotes hardening at high temperatures. The combination of these elements makes it possible to obtain a material with a unique balance of characteristics, which makes it promising for use in the aerospace industry, energy, oil and gas industry and other high-tech fields. In the course of the study, comprehensive tests were carried out, including metallographic analysis and microhardness measurements using the Vickers method. Special attention is paid to the identification and classification of non-metallic inclusions, since their presence can significantly affect the operational properties of the material. The results obtained allow us to draw conclusions about the prospects for further study and optimization of this class of alloys for industrial implementation.