Face-centered Cubic Solid Solution Research Articles

Unveiling the precipitation behavior and mechanical properties in G-phase strengthened CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six multi-principal element alloys

In order to develop Co-free CrFeNi based multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) with good synergies between strength and plasticity, the effects of Si content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six (x = 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5 and 0.625) MPEAs are studied in this work. The results show that the addition of Si induces a phase transformation from a single-phase face-centered cubic (FCC) structure to a dual-phase structure, comprising an FCC solid solution phase and G-phase. The outcomes from phase formation theory and phase diagram calculations (CALPHAD) also confirm that CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six MPEAs are prone to form dual-phase structures. With increasing Si content, the yield strength and hardness of the alloys increase by 47.2 % and 57.3 %, respectively, while still maintaining a strain of 34.2 %, which is indicative of commendable overall mechanical properties. This is ascribed to the coherence between FCC matrix and G-phase, enabling an enhancement in strength concurrently with the retention of considerable plasticity. Moreover, grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening play a dominant role in the strengthening of CrFe2Ni2Ti0.2Six MPEAs. The present work offers new insights for the further development of high-performance non-metallic MPEAs, so as to achieve a combination of targeted microstructures and excellent properties.

Critical impacts of thermodynamic instability and short-range order on deformation mechanisms of VCoNi medium-entropy alloy

Short-range order (SRO) has made a splash in the recent research on multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs), among which the equiatomic VCoNi alloy was regarded as the most potential prototype. However, in addition to disputes over SRO, there is still a lack of agreements on the phase stability and deformation mechanism of the VCoNi alloy, which should be addressed before the SRO can be independently analyzed. To this end, microstructural evolutions with increasing long-term annealing temperatures (from 700 to 1,200 °C) were first inspected in detail to determine critical temperatures for phase transitions unambiguously. Our results revealed that the VCoNi alloy was still dominated by the face-centered-cubic (FCC) structure with a minor κ phase at 900 °C and became a single FCC solid solution at above 910 °C. Subsequently, by carefully examining dislocation configurations and stacking fault (SF) widths in the FCC phases annealed at 900 °C and 1,200 °C, significant variations in local stacking fault energy (SFE) were unveiled, and the overall SFE decreased with increasing annealing temperature. Combined with the state-of-the-art density function theory (DFT)-based lattice Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, we demonstrated how the rise/decline in SFE can be explained by the greater/lower degree of SRO. This research would not only offer new perspectives for recent controversies over phase stability, deformation mechanism, and SRO characterization technique using electron diffraction but also shed light on the intrinsic relationship between SRO and local stacking fault energy of MPEAs.

Tailoring high-entropy alloys via commodity powders for metal injection moulding: A feasibility study

High entropy alloys (HEAs) represent a novel frontier in metallurgical advancements, offering exceptional mechanical properties owing to their unique multicomponent nature. This study explores a novel strategy utilising commodity powders - Ni625, Invar36, and CoCrF75 - to tailor HEAs via metal injection moulding (MIM). The objective is to achieve cost-effective manufacturing while maintaining desired properties. The research involves mixing these powders in a specific proportion, integrating them with a sustainable polyethylene glycol-cellulose acetate butyrate binder system, and characterising the resulting feedstocks for MIM processing. Subsequent debinding and sintering steps were executed to densify and form a single face-centered cubic (FCC) phase HEA, followed by comprehensive analyses to evaluate the suitability of the developed HEA compositions. In addition, all MIM stages were thoroughly characterised to control the porosity of the final parts and to ensure a single FCC solid solution with promising mechanical properties in the developed non-equiatomic CoCrFeNiMox-type HEAs.

Properties of High-Entropy Fe30Co20Ni20Mn20Al10 Alloy Produced by High-Energy Ball Milling.

A high-entropy Fe30Co20Ni20Mn20Al10 (at%) alloy with a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline phase was produced through mechanical alloying. This study examined the development of its phases, microstructure, morphology, and magnetic characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to assess the sample morphology in relation to milling times. The changes that the material underwent during milling were investigated using X-ray diffraction. The milling time affected the phase transformation. A single FCC solid solution (crystallite size = 12 nm) was found after 50 h of milling. Additionally, the magnetic characteristics were examined and shown to be associated with microstructural changes. The powder mixture exhibited behavior consistent with soft magnetics, with an Hc value of 8 Am-1 and an Ms value of 165 emu/g. The excellent soft magnetic characteristic may be related to the stability of the FCC phase, which was generated following a 30 h milling process. In addition, the low value of Ms may have originated from the presence of Al atoms in the solid solution and the development of large densities of interfaces and crystal defects.

Effect of Ti content and ball-milling time on the microstructural, thermal, and microhardness properties of AlCoCuNiTi high entropy alloys

In this study, AlCoCuNiTi high entropy alloy was produced by high-energy ball-milling (mechanical alloying) and sintering methods. The microstructural, thermal, and microhardness properties of the milled powders and sintered bulk alloy samples were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (FESEM-EDX), differential thermal analyser (DTA), optical microscope (OM), and Vickers hardness tester. XRD results revealed that the intermetallic and solid solution phases which consist of body-centered cubic (BCC) and face-centered cubic (FCC) structured phases were formed after 80–120 h of milling. It was found that the crystallite size decreased to ⁓5.67 nm, the lattice strain increased and the dislocation density increased to ⁓31.14 × 1015/m2 after the increase in Ti ratio and milling up to 120 h in the produced samples. FESEM/EDX analyses also revealed that as the mechanical milling time increased, fracture-fragments, welds, re-fractures, and agglomerations occurred, the particle size decreased to a minimum of 8 μm, and a more homogeneous structure containing spherical-shaped particles was formed. DTA curves showed an exothermic peak indicating the crystallization of the Al–Cu-based FCC solid solution phase between 550 °C and 600 °C temperatures in the samples milled up to 30 h, while it did not show any reaction peak in the samples milled up to 120 h. Additionally, it was observed that the mechanically milling time and sintering, and adding Ti led to an increase in the microhardness of the bulk alloy samples due to the deformation hardening, and the appearance of new intermetallic phases and FCC + BCC solid solution phases. Finally, after 120 h of milling and sintering at 815 °C, the maximum microhardness of the 8 % Ti-doped AlCoCuNiTi alloy was measured as 882 ± 20 HV1, which indicates that its mechanical properties are improved.

Effect of Aluminum Addition on the Microstructure, Magnetic, and Mechanical Properties of FeCrCoNiMn High-Entropy Alloy

High-entropy FeCoCrNiMn (C1) and FeCoCrNiMn10Al10 (C2) alloys (HEAs) were mechanically alloyed for 24 h and heated to 900 °C (C1_900 °C and C2_900 °C). The powders were also compacted into pellets (C1_pellet and C2_pellet) and sintered at 500 °C for 1 h. Crystal structure, microstructure, magnetic, and mechanical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and microindentation. During the milling process, a mixture of body-centered-cubic (BCC) and face-centered-cubic (FCC) phases with a crystallite size in the range of 9–13 nm was formed in the C1 HEA alloy. The dual FCC + BCC solid solutions remain for the C1_pellet and transform to a single FCC for the C1_900 °C powders. Al addition stabilizes the BCC structure in the FeCoCrNiMn10Al10 HEA alloy, as revealed by the structural refinement. The structure exhibits a mixture of BCC + FCC solid solutions for the C2 powders and BCC + FCC + CrCo sigma phase for the C2_pellet and C2_900 °C powders. The crystallite sizes are in the range of 6-93 nm for all the samples. The saturation magnetization (Ms), coercivity (Hc), and squareness ratio (Mr/Ms) are estimated to be 24.2 emu/g, 153.62 Oe, and 0.165, respectively, for C1 and 28.45 emu/g, 188.48 Oe, and 0.172 for C2. The C1_900 °C and C2_900 °C powders exhibit, respectively, paramagnetic and soft magnetic behaviors and an exchange bias at room temperature. The C1_pellet and C2_pellet HEAs show high hardness values of 584.85 Hv and 522.52 Hv, respectively.

Unexpected sluggish martensitic transformation in a strong and super-ductile high-entropy alloy of ultralow stacking fault energy

Displacive martensitic transformation usually prevails in face-centered cubic (FCC) steels and high-entropy alloys (HEAs) of low stacking fault energy (SFE; e.g., <15 mJ/m2) upon deformation. Here, we present and rationalize an unexpectedly sluggish and suppressed martensitic transformation behavior in a newly developed non-equiatomic HEA (Fe30Ni20Co20Cr20Si10, at.%) with an ultralow SFE, i.e., ∼7 mJ/m2 measured by weak-beam dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) at room temperature. The recrystallized FCC HEA with an average grain size of ∼14.9 µm shows an ultimate tensile strength of 903 MPa and a fracture elongation of ∼83.1 %. Plastic deformation of this alloy with ultralow SFE is characterized by the intensive formation of stacking faults (SFs), whereas the volume fraction of hexagonal close-packed (HCP) martensite is very low even at cold-rolled state with an equivalent strain of 1.85, i.e., < 8.3 % according to neutron diffraction analysis. Atomic-scale TEM observation demonstrates that chemical short-range order (CSRO) domains are present in the FCC solid solution. Apart from contributing to the high strength, the CSRO domains and atomic size misfit (2.36 %) promoted by the high content of Si are regarded to enhance the local barrier for the successive accumulation of SFs, hindering the formation of HCP martensite and mechanical twin. The uniform formation of SFs in the FCC matrix upon deformation effectively alleviates strain localization, contributing to the sustained strain-hardening ability and super-ductility. These insights suggest a strategy to design low-SFE alloys with excellent mechanical properties via manipulating the rate of martensitic transformation by CSROs and atomic size misfit.

Compositive role of refractory element Mo in improving strength and ductility of face-centered-cubic complex concentrated alloys

Complex concentrated alloys (CCAs) with a face-centered-cubic (FCC) structure exhibit remarkable mechanical properties, introducing the expansion of compositional space in alloy design for structural materials. The formation of a single solid-solution phase is enabled by configuring various 3d-transition elements, while doping other elements even of a small portion generally leads to the formation of brittle intermetallic compounds. Herein, we demonstrate through a systematic investigation of single FCC (CoNi)100-xMox alloys that a wide range of refractory element Mo can simultaneously improve the strength and ductility while sustaining the solid-solution structure. The addition of Mo with a larger atomic size than those of 3d-transition elements introduces severe lattice distortion in the FCC lattice and causes grain-boundary segregation enriched by Mo atoms. In addition, increasing Mo content effectively reduces the stacking fault energy (SFE). The increased lattice distortion with Mo content enhances the solid-solution strengthening of the alloys. Besides, along with reduced SFE and stabilization of the dislocation emission site by grain-boundary segregation, this elevated solid-solution strengthening increases grain-boundary strengthening, reaching a yield strength of ∼1 GPa. Moreover, the reduction of SFE with increasing Mo results in the transition of dislocation substructures and the refinement of deformation twins, allowing for enhanced strain-hardening capability and thus ∼1.3 GPa tensile strength and ∼50% ductility. Such compositive and synergetic effects of refractory element Mo enable the CCAs with a single FCC solid solution to overcome the strength and ductility trade-off.

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Spark Plasma Sintered CoCrFeNiNbX High-Entropy Alloys with Si Addition

Three mechanically alloyed (MA) and spark plasma sintered (SPS) CoCrFeNiNbX (X = 5, 20, and 35 at.%) alloys with an addition of 5 at.% of SiC were investigated. The face-centered cubic (FCC) high-entropy solid solution, NbC carbides, and hexagonal Laves phase already developed during MA. In addition, the SPS compacting led to the formation of oxide particles in all alloys, and the Cr7C3 carbides in the Nb5 alloy. The fraction of the FCC solid solution decreased with increasing Nb concentration at the expense of the NbC carbide and the Laves phase. Long-term annealing at 800 °C led to the disappearance of the Cr7C3 carbide in the Nb5 alloy, and new oxides-Ni6Nb6O, Cr2O3, and CrNbO4-were formed. At laboratory temperature, the Nb5 alloy, containing only the FCC matrix and carbide particles, was relatively strong and very ductile. At a higher Nb content (Nb20 and Nb35), the alloys became brittle. After annealing for 100 h at 800 °C, the Nb5 alloy conserved its plasticity and the Nb20 and Nb35 alloys maintained or even increased their brittleness. When tested at 800 °C, the Nb5 and Nb20 alloys deformed almost identically (CYS ~450 MPa, UTS ~500 MPa, plasticity ~18%), whereas the Nb35 alloy was much stronger (CYS of 1695 MPa, UCS of 1817 MPa) and preserved comparable plasticity.

A strong and ductile cobalt-free solid-solution Fe30Ni30Mn30Cr10 multi-principal element alloy from hot rolling

Most of the face-centered cubic (FCC) multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) developed thus far contain cobalt. For many applications, it is either required or beneficial to avoid cobalt, since cobalt has long-term activation issue (for nuclear applications), is expensive, and is considered a critical material. In addition, FCC structured solid-solution MPEAs tend to have relatively low strength. A FCC solid-solution Fe30Ni30Mn30Cr10 (at %) MPEA was fabricated via arc melting, followed by homogenization at 1100 °C for 12 h. The alloy was hot rolled at 1100 °C with a total reduction of up to 97 %. The microstructure was characterized and mechanical properties were investigated at various stages. Tensile testing showed that yield strength (YS) increased by 285–595 MPa and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased by 520–710 MPa. This increase in YS and UTS occurred with a total elongation (ductility) of 40 %. Meanwhile, hot rolling at high reductions led to evident decreases in size and area fraction of Mn-rich inclusions. Overall, after hot rolling, this FCC solid-solution MPEA is both strong and ductile.

The evolution of deformation twinning microstructures in random face-centered cubic solid solutions

The varied atomic arrangements in face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solutions introduce atomic-scale fluctuations to their energy landscapes that influence the operation of dislocation-mediated deformation mechanisms. These effects are particularly pronounced in concentrated systems, which are of considerable interest to the community. Here, we examine the effect of local fluctuations in planar fault energies on the evolution of deformation twinning microstructures in randomly arranged FCC solid solutions. Our approach leverages the kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) method to provide kinetically weighted predictions for competition between two processes: deformation twin nucleation and deformation twin thickening. The kinetic barriers underpinning each process are drawn from the statistics of planar fault energies, which are locally sampled using molecular statics methods. kMC results show an increase in the fault number densities of solid solutions relative to a homogenized reference, which is found to be driven by the fluctuations in planar fault energies. Based on kMC relations, an effective barrier model is derived to predict the competition between deformation twinning nucleation and thickening processes under a fluctuating planar fault energy landscape. A key result from this model is a measurement of the length-scale over which the influence of local fluctuations in planar fault energies diminish and nucleation/thickening-dominated behaviors converge to bulk predictions. More broadly, the tools developed in this study enable examination of the influence of chemistry and length-scale on the evolution of deformation twinning mechanisms in FCC solid solutions.

Microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of oxide dispersion strengthened CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloys fabricated by powder metallurgy

Developing materials with superior strength and wear resistance has always drawn challenging research for advanced engineering applications. Herein, considerable efforts have been devoted to enhancing the strength and wear resistance of face-centered cubic (FCC)-structured CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy (HEA) by incorporating HfO2 nanoparticles (NPs) through a powder metallurgy approach. The phase composition, microstructure, mechanical, and tribological properties of HEA composites were investigated. The XRD results reveal that the composite powders consisted of the FCC solid solution along with minor HfO2 phases. In addition, sintered HEAs showed the major FCC phase along with minor Cr-rich and HfO2 phases. Microscopic results confirmed the uniform distribution of HfO2 NPs throughout the matrix during the milling process. With increasing HfO2 contents, the hardness of the HEAs increased from 270 ± 10 to 520 ± 10 HV, while the compressive yield strength increased from 370 to 1500 MPa, due to dispersion and grain boundary strengthening effects. Furthermore, composite HEAs showed a decrease in coefficient of friction and wear rates with increasing HfO2 content due to increased surface hardness and transition in wear mechanism from severe wear to mild abrasive wear. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of producing high-performance oxide dispersion-strengthened HEAs for advanced structural applications.

Fabrication and characterization of medium‐entropy carbide ceramics in low temperature sintering

AbstractThe medium‐entropy carbide (W,Ti,V)C0.8 ceramics were prepared by sparking plasma sintering at temperatures between 1400 and 1700°C. The effects of sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the medium‐entropy carbide (W,Ti,V)C0.8 ceramics were investigated. X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive spectrometer were used to confirm the formation of single‐phase face‐centered cubic (FCC) solid solution of the medium‐entropy carbide (W,Ti,V)C0.8 ceramics prepared at a sintering temperature of 1600°C. It was found that the mechanical properties of the material were improved by solid solution strengthening during the formation of single‐phase FCC solid solution, and the best overall performance of the medium‐entropy carbide (W,Ti,V)C0.8 ceramics was achieved at 1600°C, when the hardness value was 22.3 ± 1.8 GPa, the fracture toughness was 5.7 ± 0.8 MPa·m1/2, the flexural strength was 605 ± 4 MPa, and the compressive strength was 1.84 GPa. Most importantly, the addition of TiC0.4 promoted the diffusion among the elements of the medium‐entropy carbide (W,Ti,V)C0.8 ceramics, which contributed to the formation of single‐phase FCC solid solution and significantly reduced the sintering temperature of the medium‐entropy carbide (W,Ti,V)C0.8 ceramics due to the effect of vacancies. This study provides a new idea for the preparation of medium‐entropy carbide ceramics.

Structure and glide of Lomer and Lomer-Cottrell dislocations: Atomistic simulations for model concentrated alloy solid solutions

Lomer (L) and Lomer-Cottrell (LC) dislocations have long been considered to be central to work hardening in face-centered cubic (FCC) metals and alloys. These dislocations act as barriers of motion for other dislocations, and can serve as sites for twin nucleation. Recent focus on multicomponent concentrated FCC solid solution alloys has resulted in many reported observations of LC dislocations. While these and L dislocations are expected to have a role in the mechanical behavior of these alloys, little is understood about how variations in composition and associated fault energies change the response of these dislocations under stress. We present atomistic simulations of L and LC dislocations in a model Cu-Ni system and find that changes in composition and applied stress conditions result in a wide variety of responses, including changes in core configuration and (100) glide. The results are compared to and extend previous literature related to the nature of L/LC core structures and how they vary with respect to intrinsic materials properties and stress states. This study also provides insights into mechanisms such as twin nucleation that could have important implications for work hardening in FCC solid-solution alloys.

Investigation of Nanoscale Phase Formation in Rapidly Solidified Fe&lt;sub&gt;20&lt;/sub&gt;Co&lt;sub&gt;20&lt;/sub&gt;Ni&lt;sub&gt;20&lt;/sub&gt;Cr&lt;sub&gt;20&lt;/sub&gt;B&lt;sub&gt;20−&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;sub&gt;x&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt;Si&lt;i&gt;&lt;sub&gt;x&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt; Alloys

In this study, nanoscale phase formation in rapidly solidified Fe20Co20Ni20Cr20B20−xSix alloys was investigated using atom probe tomography (APT) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to previous X-ray diffraction measurements and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results, it was thought that this alloy system was composed of almost a single face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solution phase when the Si content was 5 at.%. However, APT and TEM results at the nanoscale showed that both an FCC solid solution and compound phases formed for all alloy compositions. The rapidly solidified alloy ribbon with a Si content of 5 at.% showed the presence of nanoscale FCC and Cr2B phases. Furthermore, in addition to the nanoscale FCC and Cr2B phases, a nanoscale Cr3Ni5Si2 phase was observed when the Si content exceeded 7.5 at.%.

Investigation on microstructure, magnetic and electronic structures of the mechanically alloyed (Co2Mn)100-xNix powders used as oxidizing agent for methylene blue

• Nanocrystalline (Co 2 Mn) 100-x Ni x ( x = 0 , 20 , 40 , a n d 60 w t . % ) alloy powders were prepared by mechanical alloying. • The Ni addition to Co 2 Mn powders led to the formation of a highly disordered fcc solid solution with a soft magnetic character. • The powders were tested in the oxidation of methylene blue via a heterogeneous Fenton-like process. • (Co 2 Mn) 100-x Ni x powders are promising systems for the treatment of environmental pollution. Nanocrystalline (Co 2 Mn) 100-x Ni x ( x = 0 , 20 , 40 , a n d 60 w t . % ) alloy powders were prepared by mechanical alloying in a high-energy planetary ball mill. Morphology, structure, and microstructure have been analysed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. Magnetic properties have been investigated employing magnetization measurement in 2 - 850 K range under an applied magnetic field up to 1 T. The Ni addition to Co 2 Mn powders led to the formation of a highly disordered face-centred-cubic solid solution (FCC-SS) with a soft magnetic character. The lattice parameter and the crystallite size are increased with Ni addition; while the microstrains’ variation is reduced. Electronic structure calculations have been performed in the framework of the self-consistent ab initio calculations, based on Korringa-Kohn-Rostocker (KKR) method combined with the Coherent Potential Approximation (CPA). The powders were tested in the oxidation of methylene blue via a heterogeneous Fenton-like process in which H 2 O 2 / • OH were produced in situ. Up to 97.13% of oxidation was achieved after 70 min with 30 mg of powders at 50 °C.

Influence of processing route on microstructure and properties of Al13.45FeCrNiCo high entropy alloys

The Al13.45FeCrNiCo high entropy alloys (HEAs) were obtained using two different processing routes, namely (i) mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS), and (ii) vacuum induction melting – copper cast molding. A final homogenizing treatment step was applied to the as synthesized materials. Based on thermodynamic and empirical criteria for phase formation, the alloy was designed to develop a mixture of the face-centered-cubic (FCC) and body-centered-cubic (BCC) solid solution. The contribution of aluminum content on the alloy microstructure in terms of hardening of solid solution and precipitation hardening was highlighted. The influence of the processing route on the microstructure evolution and the relationship between the microstructure and properties of HEA materials were established by performing X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution (HR) TEM analyses, as well as microindentation and compression tests. The powder metallurgy processes produced a two-phase structure consisting of at least two types of crystalline grains based on FCC and BCC solid solutions. Increasing the sintering temperature from 950 °C to 1050 °C contributed to structural changes in the materials. Lower sintering temperatures (950 °C and 1000 °C) generated a single FCC phase structure, while at 1050 °C two FCC and BCC phases were obtained without any evidence of the liquid phase sintering. The as cast route generated a hypoeutectic type structure with a very fine and preferentially oriented dendritic structure, in which the interdendritic space is occupied by a second phase arranged in a network where the microstructure appears to be the result of a eutectic transformation with precipitation of secondary phases rich in Ni and Al. All the synthesized alloys revealed high hardness and a good mechanical behavior in compression. Sintered HEA materials exhibited higher Vickers hardness than as cast HEA, even after the heat treatment process, while the as cast HEA material has better ultimate strength and deformation behavior than sintered HEAs. The processing route did not affect the nature of the FCC and BCC solid solution phases formed in the Al13.45FeCrNiCo HEA materials but was responsible for the variation of phase proportion in the HEA’s microstructure, which in turn influenced the mechanical properties.

Mechanical property comparisons between CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy and 316 stainless steels

• The CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy shows a superior strength and ductility synergy, Charpy impact energy ( A K ), and fracture toughness at cryogenic temperatures as compared to both 316L and 316LN stainless steels. • These three alloys all rely heavily on shear transformations upon plastic straining, with deformation twinning dominating in CrCoNi while martensitic transformation involved in stainless steels. We systematically compared the mechanical properties of CrCoNi, a recently emerged prototypical medium-entropy alloy (MEA) with face-centered-cubic (FCC) structure, with hallmark FCC alloys, in particular, the well-known austenitic 316L and 316LN stainless steels, which are also concentrated single-phase FCC solid solutions and arguably next-of-kin to the MEAs. The tensile and impact properties, across the temperatures range from 373 K to 4.2 K, as well as fracture toughness at 298 K and 77 K, were documented. From room temperature to cryogenic temperature, all three alloys exhibited similarly good mechanical properties; CrCoNi increased its tensile uniform elongation and fracture toughness, which was different from the decreasing trend of the 316L and 316LN. On the other hand, the stainless steels showed higher fracture toughness than CrCoNi at all temperatures. To explain the differences in macroscopic mechanical properties of the three alloys, microstructural hardening mechanisms were surveyed. CrCoNi MEA relied on abundant mechanical twinning on the nanoscale, while martensitic transformation was dominant in 316L at low temperatures. The deformation mechanisms in the plastic zone ahead of the propagating crack in impact and fracture toughness tests were also analyzed and compared for the three alloys.

Effect of Co on phase stability and mechanical behavior of CoxCrFeNiMnAl0.3 high entropy alloys with micro/nano hierarchical structure

Co-Cr-Fe-Ni-Mn high entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted extensive attention due to their broad cryogenic engineering application potential, reasonable control of alloying elements can significantly improve its mechanical performance. In this work, the effects of Co content on the phase stability and mechanical behavior CoxCrFeNiMnAl0.3 HEAs were investigated. It is found that with the decrease of the Co content, the stability of the face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solution phase in the alloy decreases, resulting in the precipitation of the BCC (body-centered cubic) phase from the FCC phase, thereby obtaining the FCC + BCC dual-phase structure. During annealing, the precipitated BCC phase can effectively suppress the grain growth and recrystallization of the FCC solid solution, forming an ultrafine-grained microstructure. In addition, the Ni-Al type nano-B2 phase can form in the BCC phase under the influence of the negative formation enthalpy during solidification. This micro/nano hierarchical structure can effectively improve the mechanical properties of the alloys. Co0.25CrFeNiMnAl0.3 maintains relatively excellent tensile yield strength (486 MPa), the tensile elongation remains above 20 %. This study regulates the formation of the BCC phase and B2 phase by reducing the content of Co, which provides a new idea for the preparation of low-cost HEAs with excellent mechanical properties.

Effects of Nb Addition on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Nbx-CoCrFeMnNi High Entropy Alloy Films

In the present work, Nbx-CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy films (HEAFs, 0 to 7.2 at.% Nb) were fabricated by radio frequency (RF) magnetron co-sputtering of CoCrFeMnNi alloy and Nb targets. The effects of Nb addition on the microstructures and mechanical properties of HEAFs were systematically investigated. For Nb-free film (0 at.% Nb), the face-centered cubic (FCC) peaks were identified in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. The addition of Nb resulted in a broadening of diffraction peaks, a decrease in peak intensity, and the vanishment of high-angle peaks. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images indicated the formation of nanotwins at low Nb concentrations, and a transition from a single phase FCC solid solution to an amorphous phase was observed with the increasing Nb concentration. The films were strengthened with an increase in Nb concentration. Specifically, the hardness characterized by nanoindentation increased from 6.5 to 8.1 GPa. The compressive yield strength and fracture strength measured from micropillar compression tests were improved from 1.08 GPs and 2.56 GPa to 2.70 GPa and 5.76 GPa, respectively, whereas the fracture strain decreased from &gt;29.4% (no fracture) to 15.8%. Additionally, shear banding was observed in the presence of amorphous phase.