Mechanical and Magnetic Properties of an Additively Manufactured Soft-Magnetic High-Entropy Al_0.5CrFeCoNi Alloy

The demand for new classes of high-performance soft magnetic materials (SMMs) has been rapidly rising in the context of sustainable and electrified world. However, there exists a dilemma between low hysteresis loss and high mechanical performance, thereby motivating the further exploration of advanced materials and manufacturing for the magnetically soft yet mechanically tough electrical machine components. Additive manufacturing (AM), popularly known as a layer-by-layer three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, offers new opportunities of processing SMMs in near-net-shape with superior soft magnetic and mechanical properties. Here, a promising soft-magnetic Al_0.5CrFeCoNi high-entropy alloy is additively manufactured by laser powder-bed fusion method. The mechanical properties and hysteresis loop of the 3D-printed soft-magnetic high-entropy alloy are examined and compared with state-of-the-art SMMs. Moreover, its as-cast counterpart is fabricated to better understand effects of AM processing on both mechanical and soft magnetic properties.