Strength and Ductility of Dual-phasic Heterostructured FeCrNiAl Multi-principal Element Alloy

doi:10.11901/1005.3093.2025.034

Chinese Journal of Materials Research

2025, Vol. 39

Issue (12): 952-960 DOI: 10.11901/1005.3093.2025.034

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Strength and Ductility of Dual-phasic Heterostructured FeCrNiAl Multi-principal Element Alloy

WANG Junyang¹^,², HU Lihao¹^,², ZHANG Lu¹^,²(

)

^1.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang 110136, China
^2.Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science for National Defense of Aeronautical Digital Manufacturing Process, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang 110136, China

Cite this article:

WANG Junyang, HU Lihao, ZHANG Lu. Strength and Ductility of Dual-phasic Heterostructured FeCrNiAl Multi-principal Element Alloy. Chinese Journal of Materials Research, 2025, 39(12): 952-960.

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Abstract

A multi-component high-entropy alloy Fe₄₀Cr₃₇Ni₂₀Al₃was melted via vacuum arc melting and casting, which then was subjected to cold rolling and annealing so that to control and adjust its microstructure. Then the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the alloy were systematically investigated. The results demonstrate that the as-cast alloy exhibits a dual-phase structure comprising BCC and FCC phases. After cold rolling and annealing, the alloy develops a dual-phasic heterogeneous structure, wherein the BCC phase transforms into a "hard-encapsulated-soft" structure and the FCC phase evolves into a "mixed-grain" structure. This microstructural modification enables a synergistic enhancement in strength and ductility of the alloy. The improvement in ductility is primarily attributed to the enhanced deformability of the BCC phase facilitated by the "hard-encapsulated-soft" structure, while the increase in strength is predominantly ascribed to the hetero-deformation-induced (HDI) strengthening effect and microstructural refinement resulting from the dual-morphology heterogeneous structure.

Key words: metallic materials multi-principal element alloys thermomechanical processing mechanical properties heterogeneous structure

Received: 16 January 2025

ZTFLH:

TG13

Fund: Open Fund of the Key Laboratory of Fundamental Science for National Defense of Aeronautical Digital Manufacturing Process, Shenyang Aerospace University(SHSYS202205);Fundamental Research Funds for the Universities of Liaoning Province(LJ212410143012);National College Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project in Shenyang Aerospace University(D202410181358484165)

Corresponding Authors: ZHANG Lu, Tel: 15840198862, E-mail: zhanglu5853@163.com

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https://www.cjmr.org/EN/10.11901/1005.3093.2025.034 OR https://www.cjmr.org/EN/Y2025/V39/I12/952

Fig.1 SEM micrographs of SS alloy (a) dual-phase structure, (b) high magnification of region b in (a)

Table 1 Chemical compositions of two phases of SS alloy (atomic fraction, %)

Fig.2 SEM micrographs of CA alloy (a) low magnification SEM picture, (b) high magnification of the region A in (a), (c) high magnification of region B in (a), (d) high magnification SEM micrograph and the corresponding EDS elemental maps of region d in (a)

Table 2 Chemical composition of different regions in the CA alloy (atomic fraction, %)

Fig.3 TEM images of the matrix region in the CA alloy (a) BF image of region A in Fig.2a, (b) SAED pattern of the BCC matrix, (c) SAED pattern of the FCC phase, (d) HAADF-STEM image of region A in Fig.2a with elemental distribution mapping

Table 3 Chemical compositions in different regions of the CA alloy (atomic fraction, %)

Fig.4 TEM images of the recrystallized region in the CA alloy (a) BF image of region B in Fig.2a, (b) SAED pattern of BCC grains, (c) SAED pattern of the FCC matrix, (d) HAADF-STEM image of region B in Fig.2a with corresponding elemental distribution mapping

Fig.5 Schematic diagram of microstructure evolution in Fe₄₀Cr₃₅Ni₂₀Al₃alloy

Fig.6 Room-temperature tensile stress-strain curves of the two alloys (a) and comparison of the yield strength and elongation of the two alloys (b)

Fig.7 Schematic diagram of the deformation process in Region A of CA alloy

Fig.8 Schematic diagram of the deformation process in Region B of the CA alloy

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