Grain size effect on near-threshold fatigue crack propagation in CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Abstract

High-entropy alloys (HEAs), which comprise five or more elements and have an equiatomic composition, are known to exhibit superior static strength and ductility. The present study evaluated the effect of grain size on fatigue crack propagation in a CrMnFeCoNi alloy comprising a single-phase solid solution with a face-centered-cubic structure and fabricated by spark plasma sintering. Stress intensity factor-K decreasing tests were conducted with force ratios from 0.1 to 0.8, and no noticeable differences in fatigue threshold were observed between specimens having fine-grained and coarse-grained structures at relatively low force ratios. This result was attributed to fatigue crack reflection inside coarse grains. The magnitude of crack closure was high even in the fine-grained specimens and exceeded that of austenitic stainless steel having the same fine grains. Thus, the effect of grain size on the threshold stress intensity factor range was not significant in the present CrMnFeCoNi alloy, in contrast to the behavior of austenitic stainless steels.