A quinary WTaCrVHf nanocrystalline refractory high-entropy alloy withholding extreme irradiation environments

El Atwani, Osman; Vo, H. T.; Tunes, Matheus Araujo; Lee, Chanho; Alvarado, Adriana Gracia; Krienke, N.; Poplawsky, Jonathan D.; Kohnert, Aaron A.; Gigax, Jonathan; Chen, Wei -Ying; Li, Meimei; Wang, Y. Q.; Wróbel, Jay S.; Nguyen-Manh, D.; Baldwin, J. K. S.; Tukac, O. U.; Aydogan, Eda; Fensin, Saryu; Martinez, Enrique

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-38000-y

Title: A quinary WTaCrVHf nanocrystalline refractory high-entropy alloy withholding extreme irradiation environments

Journal Article · 02 May 2023 · Nature Communications

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38000-y · OSTI ID:1997670

^[1]; Vo, H. T. ^[1];

^[1]; Lee, Chanho ^[2];

^[3]; Krienke, N. ^[4];

^[5];

^[1]; Gigax, Jonathan ^[1]; Chen, Wei -Ying ^[6]; Li, Meimei ^[6];

^[1];

^[7];

^[8]; Baldwin, J. K. S. ^[1]; Tukac, O. U. ^[9]; Aydogan, Eda ^[9]; Fensin, Saryu ^[1]; Martinez, Enrique ^[10]

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Auburn University, AL (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Clemson University, SC (United States)
University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Warsaw University of Technology (Poland)
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Abingdon (United Kingdom); University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Middle East Technical University, Ankara (Turkey)
Clemson University, SC (United States)

In the quest of new materials that can withstand severe irradiation and mechanical extremes for advanced applications (e.g. fission & fusion reactors, space applications, etc.), design, prediction and control of advanced materials beyond current material designs become paramount. Here, through a combined experimental and simulation methodology, we design a nanocrystalline refractory high entropy alloy (RHEA) system. Compositions assessed under extreme environments and in situ electron-microscopy reveal both high thermal stability and radiation resistance. We observe grain refinement under heavy ion irradiation and resistance to dual-beam irradiation and helium implantation in the form of low defect generation and evolution, as well as no detectable grain growth. The experimental and modeling results—showing a good agreement—can be applied to design and rapidly assess other alloys subjected to extreme environmental conditions.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of Science (SC); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; AC07-051D14517; 9233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1997670

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Vol. 14, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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