Nano-structuring of a high entropy alloy by severe plastic deformation: Experiments and crystal plasticity simulations

Abstract

The evolution of microstructure, texture, and mechanical properties of an induction melted non-equiatomic Al6Co23.5Fe23.5Mn23.5Ni23.5 (at.%) high entropy alloy subjected to severe plastic deformation was investigated experimentally and by simulations. Analyses using electron backscatter diffraction and transmission Kikuchi diffraction images revealed the evolution of the microstructures. The coarse-grained initial structure was deformed down to an average grain size of 50 nm after a shear strain of 11 by employing the high-pressure compressive shearing process, at room temperature. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of nano-twins. The high deformation led to a significant increase in the strength, up to ≈ 1.0 GPa. X-ray diffraction macro-texture analysis revealed a shear texture with the dominance of the B/B¯{112}110-type component whose intensity varied with strain. A two-step Taylor-type polycrystal plasticity simulation approach reproduced the texture by a correlation value of 91%. In the first part of the modeling, grain fragmentation was simulated, while in the second part, grain boundary shearing and deformation twinning were considered together with the operation of {111}112-type partial slip. The effect of twinning was also examined in the texture modeling and the simulations estimated that its fraction was less than 2%.