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Title: A high-strength precipitation hardened cobalt-free high-entropy alloy

Journal Article · · Materials Science and Engineering. A, Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [5];  [1];  [1]
  1. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States)
  2. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States); University of Warwick, Coventry (United Kingdom)
  3. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
  4. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  5. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO (United States); General Electric Research Center, Niskayuna, NY (United States)

Recent studies on precipitation-hardened high-entropy alloys (HEAs) demonstrate their high strength and thermal stability, making them promising materials for high-temperature structural applications such as nuclear reactors. However, many existing HEAs contain cobalt (Co), which is unsuitable for nuclear applications because of the long-term activation issue of Co. Co is also expensive and considered a critical material for other applications. Therefore, it is desired to exclude Co from the composition. A Co-free (Fe0.3Ni0.3Mn0.3Cr0.1)88Ti4Al8 HEA was developed and studied in this work. In contrast to previous Co-free HEAs, this alloy is close to equiatomic in its composition and promises a more pronounced high-entropy effect. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and synchrotron-based, high-energy X-ray diffraction were used to characterize this alloy and revealed a complex four-phase structure, with an FCC matrix, γ’ precipitates, and a network of B2 and χ phase particles. This structure granted 2151 MPa compressive strength and good thermal stability, but with limited ductility and slow precipitation kinetics. A strengthening analysis of the alloy shows that the B2 and χ provided the most significant strengthening contribution, adding 312 MPa and 788 MPa respectively. Furthermore the strengthening effect from the nanoscale γ' is also considerable, adding 608 MPa in total. This study lays the foundation for the continued development of high-strength Co-free HEAs with improved and satisfactory ductility.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities (SUF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1997673
Journal Information:
Materials Science and Engineering. A, Structural Materials: Properties, Microstructure and Processing, Vol. 870; ISSN 0921-5093
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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