Electromagnetic wave absorption properties of mechanically alloyed FeCoNiCrAl high entropy alloy powders

•We prepared FeCoNiCrAl HEA powders successfully by mechanical alloying.•FeCoNiCrAl HEA powders were a mixture structure of BCC and FCC with flaky shape.•FeCoNiCrAl HEA powders show an excellent static magnetic property.•The EM wave absorption properties of FeCoNiCrAl HEA powders were first researched.•FeCoNiCrAl HEA powders possess excellent EM wave absorption property.

FeCoNiCrAl high entropy alloy powders with flaky shape were prepared by mechanical alloying in a planetary ball milling machine for 70 h. The electromagnetic response behavior and electromagnetic wave absorption property of the powders (70 wt% powders) dispersed in the paraffin matrix were investigated as a function of frequency in the range of 2–18 GHz. We found that the calculated reflection loss (RL) was shown that the minimum RL reached −35.3 dB at 10.35 GHz with a matching layer thickness of 1.5 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth of 2.7 GHz (9.2–11.9 GHz), indicating FeCoNiCrAl high entropy alloy powders have excellent electromagnetic wave absorption properties.

Graphical abstractIt shows the simulation of reflection loss (RL) of paraffin-based composites containing 70 wt% as-synthesized FeCoNiCrAl HEA powders versus frequency of 1–18 GHz under different layer thickness. It can be clearly seen that a minimum reflection loss of −35.3 dB at 10.35 GHz with a matching layer thickness of 1.5 mm is exhibited. The FeCoNiCrAl HEA powders are a promising wave absorption material as lightweight and excellent performance.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide