Structure and tensile properties of Mx(MnFeCoNi)100-x solid solution strengthened high entropy alloys

Abstract

Complex concentrated alloys represent the idea that alloys and materials need not be based on one or two principal elements. Instead, there exists an enormous and unexplored composition space, which enables the development of new materials. However, this vast composition space is difficult to efficiently investigate due to the high degree of compositional freedom and high experimental cost required to measure material properties, such as the yield strength. Integrating computational models with selected experiments is thus essential for the rapid exploration of this enormous compositional space. To validate a recently-developed solid solution strengthening model, we have investigated a family of face-centered-cubic (FCC) quaternary-based Mx(MnFeCoNi)100-x alloys (M = Al, Cu, Cr, Mo, Ti, and V). By employing the Voce hardening law and stress relaxation experiments, the solid-solution strengthening for various alloys was quantified. To accelerate the discovery process of CCAs, an approach combining strength predictions, phase stability predictions, and experiments is proposed.