Enhancing the wear resistance of a light-weight TiAlCrNb-based medium-entropy alloy by matrix strengthening and hard Ti₃Al precipitates

Achieving enhanced wear resistance in light-weight alloys is crucial for aerospace and automotive applications. Simultaneously strengthening the matrix and introducing hard precipitates is fundamentally required. Here, we have designed an innovative strategy to enhance the wear resistance of the light-weight TiAlCrNb-based medium-entropy alloy (MEA) through strengthened matrix and hard Ti₃Al precipitates synergistically. Compared with the TiAlCrNb, the TiAlCrNb-1.5(ZrO₂) MEA exhibits a 39 % reduction in wear volume to 2.02 × 10^-2 mm³, a 16 % reduction in the maximum wear depth to 2.0 μm, and a 39 % reduction in wear rate to 2.02 × 10^-3 mm³/(N·m), which is primarily attributed to the hardness increment of the β matrix and the formation of the hard Ti₃Al precipitates. Our quantitative analyses indicate that the hardness increment mainly comes from grain refinement strengthening, solid-solution strengthening facilitated by integrating dissolved oxygen in the β phase, and the dislocation strengthening from the substructures and unrecrystallized structures. Additionally, introducing Ti₃Al precipitates into the TiAlCrNb matrix shows a 78 % reduction in the thickness of the deformation layer. Then, it impedes the dislocation movement, which significantly improves the wear resistance of the TiAlCrNb-1.5(ZrO₂) MEA. Our research presents novel findings on the engineering of advanced wear-resistant alloys, highlighting innovative design strategies that enhance their performance and durability. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.