Early high-temperature oxidation behavior of Ti(C,N)-based cermets with multi-component AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy binder

• Ti(C,N)-based cermet with novel binder provides the outstanding oxidation resistance.
• The amount of TiO2 decreased while that of WO3 increased during isothermal oxidation.
• High Cr and Al concentration in novel binder provide efficient passivation effect.

The early high-temperature oxidation behavior of Ti(C,N)-based cermets with equiatomic AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy binder has been studied, as well as the cermet with Ni/Co binder as a reference. Experiments were performed at the temperature range of 800–1100 °C in static laboratory air. The micro-structural evolution of the multi-layered oxide scales on the cermets was investigated and the effect of binder phase constituent on the oxidation characteristics of Ti(C,N)-based cermets was evaluated. The results demonstrated that the cermet with AlCoCrFeNi multi-element alloy binder possesses superior oxidation resistance, which is greatly better than that of the cermet with Ni/Co metallic binder under the same condition. We suggest that the formation of a continuous and dense external oxide scale can effectively impede the outward diffusion of volatile tungsten oxides and inward oxygen transport, leading to a remarkable improvement of oxidation resistance. In addition, the enhanced oxidation resistance was related to the high Cr and Al concentration in AlCoCrFeNi binder phase that urges the formation of oxide layers with more efficient passivation effect against oxidation.