HEA: Elucidating the role of hydrogen on the deformation mechanisms of high entropy alloys: leading to hydrogen-resistant materials?
Context
Over many centuries, humans have been tuning metals to create desirable properties. Typically, it comprises the addition of rather low amounts of secondary elements to a main element. However, for the past decade and a half, a completely novel alloying strategy has come upon the horizon gaining significant importance. It involves the combination of multiple principal elements in high concentrations to create a new material type, termed high-entropy alloys. This new type of metals has already shown to possess extraordinary properties, going beyond those of conventional metal alloys. However, how crack initiation and growth can be prevented is key towards an improvement of fracture resistance when exposed to environments containing hydrogen.
Research objectives
Objective 1: Evaluation of the mechanical integrity of HEA
Objective 2: Evaluation of hydrogen trapping characteristics of HEA
Objective 3: Tackle the role of hydrogen on the deformation mechanisms of HEA
Objective 4: Evaluate the hydrogen-assisted mechanical degradation at micro- and nano-level
Project logo and funding logo
The research is funded by the research foundation Flanders (FWO) as a junior research project as well as by BOF UGent with a postdoctoral mandate.
Researchers