Investigation of high temperature tribological performance of TiZrV0.5Nb0.5 refractory high-entropy alloy optimized by Si microalloying

Effect of Si addition on the high temperature tribological properties of TiZrV0.5Nb0.5 refractory high entropy alloy was systematically studied. The results demonstrate that Si-microalloying affects the tribological properties by modulating the evolution of tribo-layer. Si-microalloying produces local tribo-layer with strong wear resistance by increasing the sintering rate of wear debris below 600 ℃, ultimately significantly reducing the coefficient of friction and wear rate. At 600 °C, Si-microalloying deteriorates the wear resistance due to the stress concentration at hard particles leading to accelerated fracture of the tribo-layer which hinders the formation of continuous protective tribo-layer. The enhanced tribological properties at 800 °C are attributed to the synergistic effect of suppressed oxide volatilization and rapid oxidation behavior ensuring continuous dense tribo-layer formation.