The CoCrFeNiCu/Y high entropy alloys (HEAs) are melt and solidified at a temperature gradient of 15 K/mm with growth velocities between 0.1 and 1 mm/sunder the solidification direction of along and opposite to the gravity field. The two typical solidification conditions can cause the chemical composition difference in the light element, Y, at the solidification interface. The calculation results of segregation of alloy elements show that Co, Cr, and Fe are negative segregation element while Ni, and Y are positive segregation element in the CoCrFeNiY HEA. The results are analyzed from the view-point of the gravity-induced changes of element-partition coefficients during the directional solidification of the CoCrFeNiCu/Y HEA. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.