Relationship between the unique microstructures and behaviors of high-entropy alloys

Relationship between the unique microstructures and behaviors of high-entropy alloys

Volume 31, Number 6, June 2024 | Yaqi Wu, Peter K. Liaw, Ruixuan Li, Weiran Zhang, Guihong Geng, Xuehui Yan, Guiqun Liu, and Yong Zhang
The paper explores the relationship between the unique microstructures and properties of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). HEAs, introduced in 2004, are characterized by their high entropy, which represents disorder and randomness, and their specific structural arrangements, which are analogous to information. The structure of a material, defined by the arrangement of atoms, plays a crucial role in determining its properties. HEAs offer a wide range of structural designs, including adjustable stacking fault energies, dislocations, nanotwins, and phase changes. These unique microstructures lead to exceptional properties such as high fracture strength, ductility, antiballistic capability, radiation resistance, and corrosion resistance. The authors discuss various techniques for creating HEA microstructures, including cold drawing, sputtering, diffusion, Bridgman solidification, additive manufacturing, and photolithography. These techniques have enabled the creation of structures like bamboo-fiber, compositional gradient, bionic dendrites, fishbone, and fish-scale patterns. HEAs can also be designed based on parameters such as atomic size differences, with FCC structures generally having lower yield strengths and BCC structures having higher yield strengths. The paper highlights several key characteristics of HEAs, including low tough-brittle transition temperatures, excellent irradiation and corrosion resistance, enhanced toughness under high-speed loading, self-sharpening during penetration, and exceptional dimensional stability. The linear expansion coefficients of HEAs are comparable to superalloys but lower than most conventional alloys. The special properties of HEAs are attributed to their unique atomic lattice occupancy. One notable example is the bionic bamboo-fiber structure, where two eutectic phases align with the drawing direction, resulting in a bamboo-like microstructure that enhances strength and ductility. This structure is formed due to the radial binding force during the drawing process, causing the FCC and B2 phases to elongate along the axial direction.The paper explores the relationship between the unique microstructures and properties of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). HEAs, introduced in 2004, are characterized by their high entropy, which represents disorder and randomness, and their specific structural arrangements, which are analogous to information. The structure of a material, defined by the arrangement of atoms, plays a crucial role in determining its properties. HEAs offer a wide range of structural designs, including adjustable stacking fault energies, dislocations, nanotwins, and phase changes. These unique microstructures lead to exceptional properties such as high fracture strength, ductility, antiballistic capability, radiation resistance, and corrosion resistance. The authors discuss various techniques for creating HEA microstructures, including cold drawing, sputtering, diffusion, Bridgman solidification, additive manufacturing, and photolithography. These techniques have enabled the creation of structures like bamboo-fiber, compositional gradient, bionic dendrites, fishbone, and fish-scale patterns. HEAs can also be designed based on parameters such as atomic size differences, with FCC structures generally having lower yield strengths and BCC structures having higher yield strengths. The paper highlights several key characteristics of HEAs, including low tough-brittle transition temperatures, excellent irradiation and corrosion resistance, enhanced toughness under high-speed loading, self-sharpening during penetration, and exceptional dimensional stability. The linear expansion coefficients of HEAs are comparable to superalloys but lower than most conventional alloys. The special properties of HEAs are attributed to their unique atomic lattice occupancy. One notable example is the bionic bamboo-fiber structure, where two eutectic phases align with the drawing direction, resulting in a bamboo-like microstructure that enhances strength and ductility. This structure is formed due to the radial binding force during the drawing process, causing the FCC and B2 phases to elongate along the axial direction.
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