Dendrite Arm Research Articles

Uniform Droplet Spraying of Magnesium Alloys: Modeling of Apollonian Fractal Structures on Micrograph Sections

A variety of advanced manufacturing processes have been developed based on the concept of rapid solidification processing (RSP), such as uniform droplet spraying (UDS) for the additive manufacturing of metals and alloys. This article introduces a morphological simulation of fractal dendric structures deposited by UDS of magnesium (Mg) alloys on two-dimensional (2D) planar sections. The fractal structure evolution is modeled as Apollonian packs of generalized ellipsoidal domains growing out of nuclei and dendrite arm fragments. The model employs descriptions of the dynamic thermal field based on superposed Green’s/Rosenthal functions with source images for initial/boundary effects, along with alloy phase diagrams and the classical solidification theory for nucleation and fragmentation rates. The initiation of grains is followed by their free and constrained growth by adjacent domains, represented via potential fields of level-set methods, for the effective mapping of the solidified topology and its metrics (grain size and fractal dimension of densely packed domains). The model is validated by comparing modeling results against micrographs of three UDS-deposited Mg–Zn–Y alloys. The further evolution of this real-time computational model and its application as a process observer for feedback control in 3D printing, as well as for off-line material design and optimization, is discussed.

The effect of Sn-rich phases on dynamic recrystallization behavior of Cu-9Ni-6Sn-(0.05 Nb) alloys

In this work, the number and size of Sn-rich phases were found to be different in Cu-9Ni-6Sn alloys with the different Nb addition. A low fraction of Sn-rich phases, located between secondary dendrite arms, was achieved in the Cu-9Ni-6Sn-0.05 Nb alloy. The subsequent hot deformation behavior of Cu-9Ni-6Sn-(0.05 Nb) alloys was investigated at a temperature range of 750 ℃ ∼ 850 ℃ and a strain rate of 0.01 s−1. The results revealed that the different distribution of Sn-rich phases changed the dynamic softening mechanism in two alloys during hot compression. Due to the distribution of a large number of Sn-rich phases in the grain interior, the dynamic softening mechanism observed during hot compression in Cu-9Ni-6Sn alloy was particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX). In contrast, the major dynamic softening mechanism in Cu-9Ni-6Sn-0.05 Nb alloy were discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) and CDRX due to a different distribution of Sn-rich phases. This study provides a fundamental guide for further research on Cu-Ni-Sn alloy fabrication based on the results of dynamic softening mechanisms obtained from the hot compression experiment.

Effectively mitigated macro-segregation and improved tensile properties of twin-roll cast Al–Mg–Si (6022) alloy strips via Zr addition

It is a great challenge to avoid the central macro-segregation during the solidification process of twin-roll casting (TRC), which seriously limits the mechanical properties of 6xxx series Al alloys. In this study, we find that the trace addition of 0.08 wt% Zr to Al-1.0Mg-1.2Si (6022) alloy can effectively promote the columnar-to-equiaxed transition and refine the solidification microstructure (particularly α-Al dendrites and π-AlFeMgSi phase). More importantly, the macro-segregation of the as-cast TRC strip is well mitigated with Zr addition. The refinement of α-Al dendrites and π-AlFeMgSi phase may be attributed to the formation of (Al, Si)3Zr phases when introducing Zr element, which can act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for both of them. The secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) in the central region of strips is sharply decreased from ∼33 to ∼16 μm, which facilitates the incorporation of more solute elements into the Al matrix, thus increasing the partition coefficients of Mg (kMg) and Si (kSi) elements. As a result, there are fewer solute atoms in the residual liquid phase during the final stage of solidification, leading to the alleviation of central macrosegregation. The tensile properties of the as-cast, solid solution treated (T4) and paint baking treated (T6) alloys are synchronously optimized with Zr addition. In particular, the fracture elongation of the T4 alloy is increased from ∼30.9% to ∼33.4%, indicating excellent formability. The yield strength of the T6 alloys is increased from ∼227 MPa to ∼239 MPa, satisfying the more demanding service requirements. This work can provide a strategy for the effective control of macro-segregation and produce alloy strips with high performance by the TRC process.

Toward multiscale simulations for solidification microstructure and microsegregation for selective laser melting of nickel-based superalloys

In this study, we carried out multiscale simulations that integrate a macro-scale finite element method simulation for mass and heat transfer of the transient molten pool and a micro-scale quantitative phase-field model for dendritic growth and solute distribution based on selective laser melting (SLM) experiments. Macroscopic simulations reveal an approximately inverse coupling of solidification velocity Vs and thermal gradient G near the solid–liquid interface at the tail end of the molten pool. It was found that the maximum flow velocity of the Inconel 718 alloy melt in the molten pool exceeds 2×10−2 m/s and the maximum negative pressure reaches −5.28×10−4 Pa. Through quantitative phase-field simulations, the map about G/Vs for each solidification morphology was obtained, and it was found that solidification velocity dependent solute partition coefficients k(Vs) can strongly influence the estimated stability regions. The power law relationship of the primary dendritic arm spacing (PDAS) λ1 versus solidification velocity λ1∝Vsα agrees with the previous experimental results for lower G, and the exponent α decreases with increasing G. The PDAS λ1 versus cooling rate R following λ1∝R−0.512 is consistent with previous investigations. We found that λ1 is a nonlinear function with G−0.5Vs−0.25, i.e., λ1∝(G−0.5Vs−0.25)α, with α ranging from 0.887 to 2.466 for various G. Comparison of the predicted λ1 with Trivedi's model reveals that λ1 is still nonlinear with G−0.25Vs−0.25.

Effects of thermal history of in-situ thermal management on as-built property heterogeneity of plasma arc additively manufactured Inconel 625

In-situ thermal management (ISTM) is one of the most prospective approaches to alleviating heat accumulation and achieving progressive forming for arc-based additive manufacturing. The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of thermal history, i.e., the cooling rate and the intrinsic heat treatment (IHT), of ISTM on as-built property heterogeneity of plasma arc additively manufactured Inconel 625 thin-wall deposit. The thermal history is obtained from numerical simulation. Results show that the variation of the thermal history of ISTM results in the bottom-up varied cooling rate and IHT, which together lead to the location-heterogeneous primary dendrite arm spacing, interdendritic phases and grain size. IHT of each layer is quantified by temperature-time integration (TTI), and Gaussian distributed TTI (above 600 °C) indicates the middle region of the deposit with ISTM is subjected to the most intense IHT. Compared with the counterpart of the conventional interlayer cooling strategy, the intensified high-temperature IHT of ISTM contributes to significant mitigation of micro-segregation, i.e., the brittle-hard interdendritic phases reduce 61.9%. Furthermore, a weighted value of cooling rate and TTI is innovatively introduced to depict the heterogeneity of mechanical property, which presents an exponential growth of ultimate tensile strength with the weighted value. Moreover, the layer-by-layer decreased heat input and the high-temperature preheating between layers of ISTM contribute to a certain residual stress release effect along the building direction.

Influence of cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li–Mg–Zn alloy

This work investigated the influence of cooling rate (0.04, 0.87, 15.2 and 156.2 K/s) on the microstructure and compressive properties of Al–4Cu–3Li-0.7 Mg–1Zn alloys fabricated by several casting molds. The experiment results revealed that the microstructure cooled at low cooling rates of 0.04, 0.87 and 15.2 K/s is composed of α-Al, α(Al)+T2, θ (Al2Cu), T1 phases and core-shell configuration (Al13Fe4/Al7Cu2Fe phase). This core-shell structure is observed for the first time in an Al–Cu–Li alloy. However, T1 and core-shell configuration vanish at the high cooling rate of 156.2 K/s due to the insufficient diffusion time of Cu, Li and Fe elements. As the cooling rate increases, the average secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) decreases significantly from 110.3 to 7.5 μm and the relationship between SDAS and cooling rate has been established. The average diameter/thickness of the α(Al)+T2, Al2Cu and Al13Fe4/Al7Cu2Fe phases decreases dramatically from 16.9 to 1.0 μm, 8.1 to 0.8 μm and 7.5 to 0.7 μm with the increase of cooling rate, respectively. Fine spherical Al13Fe4/Al7Cu2Fe and Al2Cu phases are beneficial to the improvement of comprehensive compressive properties. Additionally, the solute concentration in the matrix decreases, while the hot-tear resistance and volume fraction of secondary phases increase with increasing cooling rate. The empirical equations are established between (compressive properties, SDAS) and cooling rate. The fracture failure is responsible for the initial hot tearing at low cooling rates, the α(Al)+T2 or Al2Cu or Al13Fe4/Al7Cu2Fe phases at the moderate cooling rate, and the α(Al)+T2 phase at the high cooling rate.

Solidification texture dependence of the anisotropy of mechanical properties and damping capacities of an AZ31 Mg-based alloy fabricated via wire-arc additive manufacturing

Wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) offers a brand-new method for short process and rapid manufacturing of large magnesium alloy components, which can avoid the formability dilemma faced by Mg alloys due to their poor plasticity. In this study, the relationships between the solidification texture and the anisotropy of mechanical properties/damping capacities of an AZ31 Mg-based alloy fabricated by the WAAM process were studied. The results revealed that the crystallographic texture with the (0001) basal plane along the building direction was promoted by the preferential growth of dendrite arms along the <11–20> direction of the HCP crystal structure. The (0001) basal texture had a strong influence on the anisotropy of mechanical properties and damping capacities. Compared to the sample with a tensile axis perpendicular to the building direction, the sample with a tensile axis along the building direction displays a simultaneous increase in tensile strength and ductility, which is related to the smaller Schmid factor (SF) for basal <a> slip and better plasticity deformation via non-basal slip and twinning. However, the smaller SF for basal <a> slip also results in a smaller resolved shear stress factor for the breakaway stress during the damping response testing, resulting in lower damping capacities. This work is helpful for further optimizing the mechanical properties and damping capacities of WAAM-processed Mg-based alloys.

Cooling Rate Modeling and Evaluation during Centrifugal Atomization Process

Centrifugal atomization is a rapid solidification technique involving fast cooling rates to produce high-quality powders. The final microstructure of the atomized particles is closely linked with the thermal history and cooling rates experienced during the atomization process. However, there is insufficient research on the temperature evolution of metal particles produced by this technique, and most works evaluate the thermal history of the droplet through semi-empirical correlations that lie outside the conditions where they were derived. In this work, the cooling rate of centrifugally atomized Al-4%Cu was studied via mathematical modelling and experimental validation. A heat transfer model was implemented, and the value of the convective heat transfer coefficient was obtained from the Whitaker semi-empirical correlation considering three cases of study for the thermophysical properties of the gas. The validity of the Whitaker correlation was experimentally evaluated by means of cooling rates based on the Secondary Dendrite Arm Spacing (SDAS) technique. The Whitaker correlation with the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers evaluated at the ambient temperature and the gas conductivity evaluated at the film temperature gave the best agreement with the experimental results, with cooling rates in the order of 105 Ks−1 for &lt;32.5 µm powders atomized in He atmosphere.

Behaviors of novel manufacturing 1215MS+Bi steel in casting thermal processes

ABSTRACT Currently, the effects of cooling and heating rates on the sizes and morphologies of impurities and grains in the typical Bi-bearing 1215 MS steels in the manufacturing processes have never been studied, so this work aims to deduce their solidification and heating behaviors. The in-situ heating experiments were carried out using a high-temperature laser confocal microscope. Results show that bismuth could refine the dendrite arm spacing. Liquid Bi segregates at the solidification interface of grain boundary and inhibits the growth of grains. The surface tension of Bi-MnS is smaller than Bi-Fe. A big heating rate aggravated the thermal vibration of grains in local areas and resulted in large local temperature difference. Slow heating and heat preservation are helpful for sulfides to absorb heat and for achieving large grains. To sum up, this study broadens the recognition of free-cutting steels and further contributes to the development of new steel grade.

Effect of the withdrawal rate on the microstructure and creep behavior of the directionally solidified nickel-based superalloy

The effect of the withdrawal rate on the microstructure and creep behavior of a directionally solidified nickel-based superalloy DZ125L is investigated in this study. A directionally solidified nickel-based superalloy is directionally solidified using the high rate directional solidification (HRS) process at various withdrawal rates. The results show that the closely packed dendrite arms and well distributed γ′ phase can significantly enhance the creep rupture life of the alloys, while the carbides and γ/γ′ eutectics affect the strength failure and fracture of materials. A series creep tests are performed on the nickel-based directionally solidified superalloy after different withdrawal rates. With an increasing withdrawal rate, the creep life of the alloy first increases and then decreases. The K–R creep damage model is established, which can reflect the quantitative relation between the withdrawal rate and creep life. The model simulation results are in good agreement with the tests.

Investigating the effect of laser cladding parameters on the microstructure, geometry and temperature changes of Inconel 718 superalloy using the numerical and experimental procedures

In this paper, a novel numerical model was used to simulate the laser cladding process using the finite element technique in order to assess the influence of scanning rate and laser power on the microstructure, geometry and temperature changes of Inconel 718. The laser cladding process was also performed experimentally to show the capability of the applied model for prediction of the results. The results showed that a maximum temperature of 2942 °C was obtained at the end of cladding layer for scanning rate of 4 mm/s and laser power of 250 W. With the increase of scanning rate and the decrease of laser power the height and length of cladded sample decreased, because the heat transfer to the sample was faster than its temperature rise. The microstructure analysis demonstrated that a columnar grain structure was formed when the scanning rate and laser power reached to 4 mm/s and 200 W respectively, due to the increase of cooling rate. However, the increase of laser power up to 250 W led to formation of an equiaxed microstructure, which was owing to the reduction of thermal gradient and consequently the reduction of G/R ratio. An elevation of the laser power from 200 to 250 W resulted in a reduction in the cooling rate and thus an increase in the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings by about 27 % and 31.5 % respectively. Moreover, a rise of scanning rate from 4 to 5 mm/s led to a decrease in the primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings by about 14 % and 17 % respectively.

Effect of line energy on microstructures and mechanical properties of Co-Cr-Mo alloy single-track fabricated by DED method

The additive material built-up by the directed energy deposition (DED) method is affected by the melting and solidification reaction with the substrate material. This work investigated the effect of line energy on microstructures and mechanical properties of Co-Cr-Mo alloy single-track fabricated by the DED method. The line energy is a function of scanning speed and laser power, which are the main process parameters for the DED method. The Co-Cr-Mo alloy single-track with low line energy has a columnar grain microstructure with a strong (0 0 1)γ texture parallel to the build direction. As the line energy increased, the single-tracks had mixed microstructure, including fine columnar grains and coarse equiaxed grains with random texture. In addition, the secondary dendrite arm spacing of the single-track depends on the line energy due to the rapid cooling rate. The ε-Co phase in Co-Cr-Mo alloy single-track increased with increasing line energy throughout the isothermal γ → ε martensitic transformation. The effect of the ε-Co phase on the mechanical properties of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy single-track is insignificant. The diffusion of alloying elements from the substrate material throughout the fusion zone occurred and influenced the mechanical properties of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy single-track. The elastic modulus and nano hardness decreased with increasing line energy because of the diffusion of alloying elements from the substrate material.

Microstructures and properties of Ni-Si precipitation strengthened phosphor bronze

To strengthen phosphor bronze, this work attempted to form precipitate nanoparticles in the matrix by adding alloying elements. First, Ni and Si were identified as alloying elements through mixing enthalpy analysis. Then, Cu-8Sn-0.1P, Cu-8Sn-0.1P-0.5Ni-0.12Si, Cu-8Sn-0.1P-1Ni-0.24Si, and Cu-8Sn-0.1P-2Ni-0.48Si alloys were prepared by intermediate frequency induction furnace. After that, the microstructures of these alloys were characterized and their properties were tested. Experimental results indicated that Ni31Si12, Ni2Si, and Ni5P4 phases are newly formed in the as-cast microstructure after adding Ni and Si. At the same time, the eutectoid size of α-Cu and Cu41Sn11 in the as-cast microstructure of Ni-Si added phosphor bronze is reduced, the secondary dendrite arm spacing is reduced, and the segregation is also improved. After aging treatment, nano-sized cellular Ni2Si and trace Ni5P4 phases are precipitated in the Ni-Si added phosphor bronze. With the formation of nanoprecipitates, Ni-Si added phosphor bronzes show excellent precipitation strengthening effect after aging treatment, and the electrical conductivity of Cu-8Sn-0.1P-0.5Ni-0.12Si and Cu-8Sn-0.1P-1Ni-0.24Si alloys is also slightly higher than that of Cu-8Sn-0.1P. This study provides a new solution for strengthening phosphor bronze, enabling phosphor bronze alloys to meet higher performance and broader applications.

Effect of Cooling Condition on Microstructure after Unidirectional Solidification of Cu-Ni-Si Alloys

In order to consider the effect of cooling conditions on microstructure formation during casting of Cu-Ni-Si alloy (Corson alloy), the microstructures of unidirectional solidification of the alloy were evaluated. Ingots of Corson alloy with several cooling conditions were prepared by Mizuta method, and microstructural observations and analysis of the distribution of added elements were performed. The primary and secondary dendrite arm spacings (P-DAS and S-DAS) became smaller with increasing cooling rate, and it was found that P-DAS and S-DAS can be accurately approximated by multiplier of cooling rate times temperature gradient, and by that of cooling rate, respectively. Between secondary dendrites, Si was enriched from the initial solidification zone to the final solidification zone, and Ni was almost constant around the initial solidification zone and enriched slightly around the final solidification zone. The Si enrichment was larger under the condition of lower cooling rate, which is expected to be closer to the equilibrium state. In this study, it was found for Corson alloy that DAS became bigger and Si enrichment between secondary dendrites was larger under the condition of lower cooling rate, and Ni enrichment was not affected by cooling rate.

Convection effect on solidification microstructure: dendritic arm spacing and microsegregation

Convection affect primary crystalline structure, particularly, the dendrite crystal velocity and dendrite tip radius. The present work aims on the influence of the convective flow on the primary dendrite spacing between neighbouring crystals within the dendrite ensemble. Solidification of a binary alloy is considered within the model of stagnant boundary layer, under imposed thermal gradient which influence on the crystal microstructure and chemical microsegregation. Chemical composition in the solidifying liquid and crystalline solid is derived from the solution of the solute diffusion transport equation taking into account the convective flow. The model results are consistent with the Scheil-Brody-Flemings model, experimental data and computational results.

Effect of high cooling rate on the solidification microstructure of Al–Cu/TiB2 alloy fabricated by freeze-ablation casting

In cast aluminum alloys, nanoparticle addition and increasing the cooling rate can enhance the strength of the alloy while improving its undesirable properties such as thermal cracking, shrinkage porosity, and casting micropores. Thus, the issues of nanoparticle distribution and shape size in alloys still need to be resolved. In this study, an innovative process known as freeze-ablation was introduced. This environmentally friendly, safe, and low-cost casting process could greatly increase the cooling rate of the melt. After pouring the Al–Cu-6wt%TiB2 alloy into a frozen sand mold, we used low-temperature fluid (such as water) to disperse the sand mold, and the cooling liquid could directly contact the casting to significantly increase the cooling rate. The results showed that the cooling rate of the alloy using the freeze-ablation process was nearly 40 times higher than that of ordinary resin sand molds, and its average grain size and secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) decreased by 50% and 70%, respectively, compared to ordinary resin sand molds. At a high cooling rate, the TiB2 particles showed a more dispersed distribution and were smaller in size, with the smaller TiB2 particles exhibiting a better effect on grain refinement. With the addition of the TiB2 particles and solidification at a high cooling rate, the tensile strength of the TiB2/Al–Cu alloy reached 495.2 MPa under the freeze-ablation process, which was 15.2% higher than using a resin sand mold.

Enhanced comprehensive performance via alloying and rheo-diecasting in a semi-solid Al–Si–Fe–Mg–Cu–Sr alloy

A semi-solid Al alloy with superior comprehensive performance was obtained via alloying design concept and rheo-diecasting (RDC). The semi-solid alloy slurry was obtained via the vibrating contraction sloping plate. As the contents of Cu and Mg elements increased, the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) decreased and solubility of Cu and Mg elements increased, which improved the mechanical property and decreased the thermal conductivity of as-cast alloys. The effect of microstructure evolution induced by pouring temperature on mechanical properties at room and elevated temperatures, thermal conductivity, and corrosion behavior of the RDC alloy was investigated. The results demonstrated that the low porosity and refined primary α1-Al grains, secondary α2-Al grains, β-Al5FeSi phases, eutectic Si phases played a significant role in enhancing mechanical properties of the alloy at room temperature. Meanwhile, some submicron β-Al5FeSi phases effectively hindered grain boundary sliding, resulting in the increased mechanical properties of the alloy at elevated temperatures. The improvement in thermal conductivity was related to the decreased electron scattering due to the reduced porosity and small-sized secondary phases. The decrease in the potential difference between the β-Al5FeSi phase and matrix helped improve the corrosion resistance of the alloy.

Scaling law for growth of misoriented equiaxed Al-Cu dendrites: A phase-field study with in situ experiment validation

We consider the effect of a mutual misorientation between two interacting equiaxed dendrites in polycrystalline materials on the scaling law of growth from undercooled melt. This effect is investigated by three-dimensional quantitative phase-field simulations of Al-Cu alloy solidification in thin samples. It has been found that the equiaxed dendritic growth kinetics changes due to the reduced solute interaction when considering mutual grain misorientation, and both the characteristic growth rate and primary dendritic arm length can be approximately correlated linearly to the misorientation of two dendrites. The scaling law, which originally uses the solute composition and the distance between two nuclei as physical parameters to describe the dynamics of primary dendritic arms, is then adapted with consideration of the misorientation. Compared with the previous scaling law that only concerns face-to-face growth of two dendrites, the predictions of the newly proposed scaling law taking the grain orientation in account are in better agreement with the experimental data.

A Comparable Study on Laser Welding Behaviors of Selective Laser Melted 304 Stainless Steel, Inconel 718 Superalloy and Ti-6Al-4V Alloy.

The hybrid selective laser melting (SLM) technology by laser welding can capture the superiorities of both processes to produce large-scale, high-quality, high-resolution, and complicated-shaped metallic parts. In this work, the SLMed 304 stainless steel, Inconel 718 superalloy, and Ti-6Al-4V alloy sheets were joined by laser welding under various building directions. And then, the microstructure, microhardness, tensile properties, and corrosion resistance of the laser-welded SLMed 304 stainless steel, Inconel 718 superalloy, and Ti-6Al-4V alloy were compared to explore the effect of SLMed microstructural anisotropy and crystal structure. The results showed that phase constitutions were the same between the SLMed and laser-welded joints for the three alloys. But the grain size and dendrite arm spacings in the joints were coarser than those in the SLMed samples. The SLMed microstructural anisotropy resulted in differences in the thermal gradient, grain size, dendrite arm spacing, and tensile properties in the joints under various welding types. Compared with the SLMed counterparts, the laser-welded 304 stainless steel and Inconel 718 joints showed lower microhardness and tensile properties but better corrosion resistance. In contrast, the laser-welded Ti-6Al-4V joints possess a higher microhardness, tensile properties, and corrosion resistance. Therefore, it is feasible to join SLMed parts to manufacture large-scale parts by laser welding.

Unveiling the strengthening mechanisms of as-cast micro-alloyed CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloys

The strengthening effects introduced by the addition of 2 at% titanium, vanadium, and niobium, as the well-known micro-alloying elements, to the model CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) were studied in the present work. Accordingly, the microstructure, mechanical properties, and strengthening mechanisms of the as-cast CrMnFeCoNi, (CrMnFeCoNi)98Ti2, (CrMnFeCoNi)98V2, and (CrMnFeCoNi)98Nb2 HEAs were investigated by electron-backscattered diffraction (EBSD), tensile testing, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal analysis, and theoretical calculations and measurements. Depending on the nature of the added elements and their segregation tendency during solidification, different degrees of microstructural refinement were observed in the as-cast ingots. The segregation tendency of Ti was found to be more pronounced compared to that of V (as predicted by the Scheil-Gulliver model), leading to a more refined secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) and grains (resulting from the growth restriction factor and constitutional undercooling). Moreover, Nb addition led to the formation of the (Cr,Fe,Ni)2(Nb) Laves phase at the last stages via the eutectic solidification. The effect of the Laves intermetallic compound (type C14) and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) effect on the strength-ductility synergy was discussed. Moreover, a detailed modeling of the strengthening mechanisms revealed that the grain boundary strengthening (represented by the Hall-Petch relationship) and solid solution hardening (due to the lattice distortion) were the primary contributors to the increase in yield strength of V- and Ti-containing HEAs. On the other hand, the formation of the Laves phase, besides solid solution and grain boundary strengthening mechanisms, could lead to a considerable increase in the yield strength of the Nb-containing sample; although it would deteriorate the ductility of the alloy, as also discussed based on its brittle fracture surface appearance and the presence of micro-cracks. Accordingly, the present study is applicable to the design of modified Cantor-based HEAs.