In-situ real time observation of martensite transformation in duplex fcc+hcp cobalt based entropic alloys

Athermal martensite transformation in duplex fcc+hcp Co-based entropic alloys during continuous cooling was investigated in-situ. The real time observation was carried out using high temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (HT-CLSM). This technique enables the detection of the athermal fcc to hcp transformation in entropic alloys, which is not sensitively detected by conventional thermomechanical methods e.g. dilatometer. The martensite fraction increases with increasing martensite starting temperature, and vice versa. Meanwhile, the martensite starting temperature decreases with the increasing grain size. In addition, the morphology and nucleation sites for martensite formation is discussed. This is the first time the that HT-CLSM technique is utilized in the field of entropic alloys. This in-situ observation technique coupled with thermodynamic calculations may help in the design of entropic alloys through the tailoring of the desired microstructure.