On the dual-stage partial recrystallization and the corresponding mechanical response of the Cantor alloy

In this work, we systematically characterized the microstructural evolution of the Cantor alloy, FeCoNiCrMn, during recrystallization at a typical mid-temperature, 700, and carefully bridged up with the mechanical responses. Apart from the overall trade-off phenomenon, we evidenced the presence of a two-stage strength-ductility variation, where before 5 min the yield strength drops fast without apparent ductility compensation while in the following 5-20 min the ductility increases remarkably. The first stage covers the transition from cold-rolled non-recrystallized microstructure to a eutectic-like stacking of re-crystallized regions and new non-recrystallized regions with a different texture. The second stage then includes the vanishing of the new non-recrystallized regions and the completing of recrystallization. This dual-stage transition is to our knowledge never reported before for HEAs, and we suppose the occurrence is associated with the initial inhomogeneity caused by cold-rolling, and thus the different pathways for such inhomogeneous microstructure to evolve, energetically, during heating. (C) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, we systematically characterized the microstructural evolution of the Cantor alloy, FeCoNiCrMn, during recrystallization at a typical mid-temperature, 700, and linked it carefully with the mechanical responses. We observed a two-stage strength-ductility variation, which has not been reported before for high-entropy alloys. This dual-stage transition may be associated with the initial inhomogeneity caused by cold-rolling and the different pathways for the evolution of such inhomogeneous microstructure during heating.