Nano-amorphous-crystalline dual-phase design of Al80Li5Mg5Zn5Cu5 multicomponent alloy

The design of metallic materials with high strength, high ductility, and high thermal stability has always been a long-sought goal for the materials science community. However, the trade-off between strength and ductility remains a challenge. Here, we proposed a new strategy to design and fabricate bulk amorphous-crystalline dual-phase superior alloys out of the Al80Li5Mg5Zn5Cu5 multicomponent alloy. The nano-amorphous phase revealed unexpected thermal stability during fabrication and mechanical testing above the crystallization temperature. The true fracture strength of the Al80Li5Mg5Zn5Cu5 nano-amorphous-crystal dual-phase multicomponent alloy was increased from 528 to 657 MPa, and the true strain was increased from 18% to 48%. In addition, the alloy yielded a strength 1.5 times higher than that of the commonly used high-strength aluminum alloys at 250 degrees C. This strategy provided a new approach and concept for the design of high-performance alloys to ensure strength-plasticity balance.

Automated summary

The design and fabrication of metallic materials with high strength, high ductility, and high thermal stability is a long-sought goal in materials science. In this study, a new strategy was proposed to design and fabricate bulk amorphous-crystalline dual-phase alloys with superior properties. The nano-amorphous phase exhibited unexpected thermal stability and improved mechanical properties, increasing the fracture strength and strain of the alloy. Additionally, the alloy showed higher strength than commonly used high-strength aluminum alloys at elevated temperatures. This research provides a new approach and concept for designing high-performance alloys with a balance between strength and plasticity.