Heterogeneous Structure Design to Strengthen Carbon-Containing CoCrFeNi High Entropy Alloy

A carbon-containing CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy (HEA) with heterogeneous structures was obtained through thermomechanical treatments, which induced concurrent recrystallization and carbide precipitation in the alloy. A combination of high yield strength (556 MPa) and large uniform elongation (45%) was achieved in the investigated alloy. The enhancement of the strength is attributed to the combined effects of grain refinement, precipitation strengthening and microstructural heterogeneity. Our work demonstrated that the heterogeneity design could be realized by thermomechanical processes, which provided a practical strategy for producing HEAs with high performance.

Automated summary

A carbon-containing CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy was obtained through thermomechanical treatments, which resulted in concurrent recrystallization and carbide precipitation in the alloy. The alloy exhibited a combination of high yield strength and large uniform elongation, with strength enhancement attributed to grain refinement, precipitation strengthening, and microstructural heterogeneity. The study demonstrated that heterogeneity design can be achieved through thermomechanical processes, offering a practical strategy for producing high-performance HEAs.