Co-introduction of precipitate hardening and TRIP in a TWIP high-entropy alloy using friction stir alloying

Tuning deformation mechanisms is imperative to overcome the well-known strength-ductility paradigm. Twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP), transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and precipitate hardening have been investigated separately and have been altered to achieve exceptional strength or ductility in several alloy systems. In this study, we use a novel solid-state alloying method-friction stir alloying (FSA)-to tune the microstructure, and a composition of a TWIP high-entropy alloy by adding Ti, and thus activating site-specific deformation mechanisms that occur concomitantly in a single alloy. During the FSA process, grains of the as-cast face-centered cubic matrix were refined by high-temperature severe plastic deformation and, subsequently, a new alloy composition was obtained by dissolving Ti into the matrix. After annealing the FSA specimen at 900 degrees C, hard Ni-Ti rich precipitates formed to strengthen the alloy. An additional result was a Ni-depleted region in the vicinity of newly-formed precipitates. The reduction in Ni locally reduced the stacking fault energy, thus inducing TRIP-based deformation while the remaining matrix still deformed as a result of TWIP. Our current approach presents a novel microstructural architecture to design alloys, an approach that combines and optimizes local compositions such that multiple deformation mechanisms can be activated to enhance engineering properties.

Automated summary

This study explores a novel solid-state alloying method called friction stir alloying to modify the composition of a TWIP high-entropy alloy with titanium, activating multiple deformation mechanisms simultaneously. Through the formation of hard Ni-Ti rich precipitates and depletion of nickel in certain regions, TRIP-based deformation and TWIP deformation are induced within the alloy, enhancing its engineering properties. The approach presented in this study offers a unique way to design alloys with a combination of optimized local compositions that can activate various deformation mechanisms.