Consideration of kinetics on intermetallics formation in solid-solution high entropy alloys

There are overwhelming experimental observations indicating intermetallic (IM) phase formed in the intermediate temperatures in high entropy alloys. In this study, we proposed a model to show how kinetics could intervene the thermodynamic determination of phase formation. The model offers a good explanation for the prevalent formation of IM formation in the intermediate temperature range in high entropy alloys available in the literature. To further demonstrate the kinetic effect, we selected the equiatomic CrMnFeCoNi alloy (i.e., Cantor Alloy) as a surrogate material and employed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at different heating rates to investigate IM formation in this alloy. In this case, we found the presence of four IM compounds, BCC-Cr, L1(0)-NiMn, B2-FeCo, and Cr-rich sigma phases, in the temperature ranging from about 200 to 900 degrees C, above which the alloy was a complete solid solution. From the DSC measurements, we were also able to build a quasi-equilibrium TTT diagram for Cantor Alloy. It was the first time that such a TTT diagram was established for a high entropy alloy. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.