https://dc.engconfintl.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=superalloys_ii

A critical review of high entropy alloys and related concepts

Microstructures and properties of high-entropy alloys

High-entropy alloys are equiatomic, multi-element systems that can crystallize as a single phase, despite containing multiple elements with different crystal structures. A rationale for this is that the configurational entropy contribution to the total free energy in alloys with five or more major elements may stabilize the solid-solution state relative to multiphase microstructures. We examined a five-element high-entropy alloy, CrMnFeCoNi, which forms a single-phase face-centered cubic solid solution, and found it to have exceptional damage tolerance with tensile strengths above 1 GPa and fracture toughness values exceeding 200 MPa·m(1/2). Furthermore, its mechanical properties actually improve at cryogenic temperatures; we attribute this to a transition from planar-slip dislocation activity at room temperature to deformation by mechanical nanotwinning with decreasing temperature, which results in continuous steady strain hardening.

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A fracture-resistant high-entropy alloy for cryogenic applications

https://zenodo.org/record/1258680/files/article.pdf

The influences of temperature and microstructure on the tensile properties of a CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy

The factors of the atomic size difference Delta and the enthalpy of mixing ΔH mιx of the multi-component alloys were summarized from the literatures. The formation zones of solid-solution phases, intermediate phases, and bulk metallic glasses were determined and the validity was verified by experimental results. For forming the solid solution, the alloys should have high entropy of mixing, lower Delta, and not too negative and positive enthalpy of mixing.

Solid‐Solution Phase Formation Rules for Multi‐component Alloys

Multicomponent alloys containing several components in equal atomic proportions have been manufactured by casting and melt spinning, and their microstructures and properties have been investigated by a combination of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffractrometry and microhardness measurements. Alloys containing 16 and 20 components in equal proportions are multiphase, crystalline and brittle both as-cast and after melt spinning. A five component Fe20Cr20Mn20Ni20Co20 alloy forms a single fcc solid solution which solidifies dendritically. A wide range of other six to nine component late transition metal rich multicomponent alloys exhibit the same majority fcc primary dendritic phase, which can dissolve substantial amounts of other transition metals such as Nb, Ti and V. More electronegative elements such as Cu and Ge are less stable in the fcc dendrites and are rejected into the interdendritic regions. The total number of phases is always well below the maximum equilibrium number allowed by the Gibbs phase rule, and even further below the maximum number allowed under non-equilibrium solidification conditions. Glassy structures are not formed by casting or melt spinning of late transition metal rich multicomponent alloys, indicating that the confusion principle does not apply, and other factors are more important in promoting glass formation.

A.J.B. Vincent

Papers

Microstructural development in equiatomic multicomponent alloys