Effect of the Cu content on the corrosion of (TiZrNiNb)100-xCux high-entropy alloys in NaCl solution

Abstract This study shows the differences of the microstructure, microhardnesss, crystalline structure and electrochemical properties of a (TiZrNiNb)100-xCux (x = 10, 15, 20, 25, 30) alloy when two manufacturing processes are applied: the arc melting (ingots) and the melt spinning process (ribbons). The results indicate higher anti-corrosion properties for the ribbon samples due to a higher amorphous structure with low electric conductivity which exhibits an improvement in hardness. This amorphous structure does not demonstrate dendritic segregation nor do the ingot samples; therefore, there is no evidence of intermetallic phases identified by the X-Ray analysis. The 10 and 15 at.% Cu alloy exhibited the highest corrosion resistance, regardless of the manufacturing route.