Key Findings
EntroMat has developed High Entropy Materials (HEMs) designed to replace hard chrome in industrial applications. Recent collaboration with Fraunhofer ILT in Germany has confirmed the production of dense, strongly bonded coatings with hardness values between 700 and 800 HV. Internal comparative testing indicates that selected compositions can deliver up to approximately ten times (10 X) the sliding-wear resistance and up to approximately seventy times (70 X) the corrosion resistance of hard chrome under specific test conditions.
Technical Details
Unlike conventional alloys based on a single dominant element, HEMs combine multiple principal elements. This approach utilizes a computational materials engineering platform and AI-assisted alloy development to optimize hardness, toughness, and corrosion protection. The materials are supplied as metal powders intended for use with existing thermal-spray and laser-cladding infrastructure. Target components include:
- Hydraulic-cylinder rods
- Large rollers, shafts, and pins
- Bushings and other tooling exposed to abrasive or chemical environments
Background and Context
The development is driven by tightening European environmental restrictions under REACH regarding hexavalent chromium, or Cr(VI). While hard chrome is a proven standard for protecting industrial components, the use of Cr(VI) creates significant health, environmental, and compliance challenges. EntroMat, a spin-out from Swinburne University of Technology, aims to provide a solution that does not require customers to redesign their facilities or invest in new capital equipment.
Significance and Outlook
By acting as a powder supplier rather than a coating service, EntroMat allows manufacturers and coaters to retain their existing application expertise and equipment. To ensure cost competitiveness, the company utilizes recycled specialty-alloy feedstocks where technically appropriate to reduce reliance on expensive virgin elements. The technology is now positioned for small industrial trials across the maintenance, repair, and overhaul sectors, with further customer-specific validation required to confirm field performance across different substrates and environments.
Source: https://fineeng.eu/entromat-high-entropy-materials-hard-chrome-replacement/
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