Pr oj e c t Fac t s

Crosscutting Research

Experimental and Computational

Investigation of High-Entropy Alloys for
Elevated High-Temperature Applications
Background
High-entropy alloys (HEAs) developed with a novel alloy design approach using multiple
principal elements in near equimolar ratios have emerged as candidate materials for
high-temperature applications in excess of 800 degrees Celsius (C). The traditional alloy
design method uses only one or two principal elements with small additions of other
alloying elements. These applications include the advanced ultrasupercritical (AUSC)
steam based power generation cycle, which uses steam at temperatures and pressures
well above its critical point. Operating a steam power plant at AUSC conditions (up to
760 C and 35 megapascals [MPa] pressure) results in fuel-to-electrical-power conversion
efficiencies that are considerably higher than in conventional subcritical or supercritical
steam power plants.
The Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
is partnering with The University of Tennessee to perform fundamental studies on
aluminum-chromium-copper-iron-manganese-nickel (AlXCrCuFeMnNi) HEAs for use
in boilers and steam turbines at temperatures and pressures up to 760 C and 35 MPa,
respectively, and higher. An integrated research approach that couples thermodynamic
calculations and focused experiments will be used to identify HEAs that will outperform
conventional alloys in these applications.

CONTACTS
Robert Romanosky
Crosscutting Research Technology
Manager
National Energy Technology Laboratory
3610 Collins Ferry Road
P.O. Box 880
Morgantown, WV 26507-0880
304-285-4721
robert.romanosky@netl.doe.gov
Vito Cedro
Project Manager
National Energy Technology Laboratory
626 Cochrans Mill Road
P.O. Box 10940
Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940
412-386-7406
vito.cedro@netl.doe.gov
Peter Liaw
Principal Investigator
University of Tennessee
406 Ferris Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-2100
865-974-6356
pliaw@utk.edu

PARTNERS
Computherm LLC

Project Description
This project will identify and develop HEAs that have the key mechanical properties for
use at elevated temperatures. Project personnel will make samples of the desired HEA
compositions and perform compositional and microstructural analyses to characterize
the structures of the developed HEAs. Researchers will perform conventional roomtemperature and elevated-temperature uniaxial tensile and creep experiments. They
will also use advanced characterization techniques, such as neutron and synchrotron
diffraction, to determine structural changes of the new HEAs under applied stresses
at high-temperatures. These advanced techniques will utilize in-situ testing of the
mechanical behavior under uniaxial tension and compression or creep loading to
identify deformation mechanisms under various stress loads at elevated temperatures.

PROJECT DURATION
Start Date
08/01/2012

End Date
07/31/2015

COST
Total Project Value
$300,000
DOE/Non-DOE Share
$300,000 / $0

Albany, OR Anchorage, AK Morgantown, WV Pittsburgh, PA Sugar Land, TX

Website: www.netl.doe.gov
Customer Service: 1-800-553-7681

Goals and Objectives

This project is to develop one or more new HEA compositions that have the required mechanical properties (ductility and
creep strength) to function in AUSC boilers. The objectives of this project are to (1) perform fundamental studies on the
AlXCrCuFeMnNi HEA system to determine its potential for use in AUSC boilers and steam turbines at 760 C and 35 MPa
and higher, and (2) develop an integrated approach to coupling thermodynamic calculations and focused experiments
to identify HEAs that outperform conventional alloys. Phase compositions that might have microstructures with the best
combined strength, ductility, and creep resistance will be identified utilizing computational thermodynamic calculations.
The computational-thermodynamic results will be verified through focused lab-scale experiments. These experiments will
be performed to confirm the phase compositions of HEAs, characterize the microstructure, and measure the key mechanical
properties of the new HEAs.

Benefits
The expected results of the project will be one or more new
HEA compositions that have the required mechanical properties
(ductility and creep strength) to function in AUSC boilers up to 760
C and a steam pressure of 35 MPa. The results will also demonstrate
a computer-aided design approach for identifying and developing
new types of alloys for advanced high-temperature fossil energy
applications. The performance of the newly-designed HEAs should
surpass that of previously-studied candidate HEA alloy systems
(e.g., Al0.5CoCrCuFeNi), achieved by identifying compositions via
computational thermodynamics that have phases providing better
mechanical properties. The proposed research will also advance
computational modeling used in the accelerated design of hightemperature alloys by enhancing the thermodynamic database for
the AlXCrCuFeMnNi HEA system and developing quantitative creep
modeling for designing a wide range of advanced precipitationstrengthened alloys.

Figure 1. Calculated isopleth of the AlxCoCrCuFeNi HEA

system using thermodynamic descriptions. Similar
calculations will be performed for the AlxCrCuFeMnNi HEA
system to assist in the design of HEAs suitable for use in
high-temperature applications.

Figure 2. Compressive stress-strain curves of Al 0.5CoCrCuFeNi HEAs at (a) high strain rate (10/s) and (b) low strain rate
(10 -3/s) at elevated temperatures showing excellent strength (Tong CJ, et al. Met & Mat. Trans A, 2005, 36, 1263). Similar
AlxCrCuFeMnNi HEAs will be developed by combining the best strength and creep resistance for use in the advanced
ultrasupercritical (AUSC) steam based power generation cycle.

FE0008855, November 2012