Atomic Interactions and Order-Disorder Transition in FCC-Type FeCoNiAl1-xTix High-Entropy Alloys.

Abstract

Single-phase high-entropy alloys with compositionally disordered elemental arrangements have excellent strength, but show a serious embrittlement effect with increasing strength. Precipitation-hardened high-entropy alloys, such as those strengthened by L12-type ordered intermetallics, possess a superior synergy of strength and ductility. In this work, we employ first-principles calculations and thermodynamic simulations to explore the atomic interactions and order–disorder transitions in FeCoNiAl1−xTix high-entropy alloys. Our calculated results indicate that the atomic interactions depend on the atomic size of the alloy components. The thermodynamic stability behaviors of L12 binary intermetallics are quite diverse, while their atomic arrangements are short-range in FeCoNiAl1−xTix high-entropy alloys. Moreover, the order–disorder transition temperatures decrease with increasing Ti content in FeCoNiAl1−xTix high-entropy alloys, the characteristics of order–disorder transition from first-principles calculations are in line with experimental observations and CALPHAD simulations. The results of this work provide a technique strategy for proper control of the order–disorder transitions that can be used for further optimizing the microstructure characteristics as well as the mechanical properties of FeCoNiAl1−xTixhigh-entropy alloys.