Engineering hierarchical γ/ε/γ-twin laminate via cyclic tension-compression for strength-ductility synergy in a metastable high-entropy alloy
Engineering hierarchical γ/ε/γ-twin laminate via cyclic tension-compression for strength-ductility synergy in a metastable high-entropy alloy
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摘要: Metastable high-entropy alloys (HEAs) offer a practical strategy to achieve a good balance between strength and ductility through both deformation-induced (martensitic) phase transformations and solid solution strengthening effects. However, HEAs often have a low yield strength and a tendency towards deformation-induced martensite coarsening, which impedes the formation of refined microstructures that would improve the mechanical properties. Here, we demonstrate that in a prototype metastable Fe60Mn12Cr12Ni8Si8 HEA, a hierarchical γ/ε/γ-twin laminate structure can be achieved simply by cyclic tension-compression (CTC) processing. Compared to the as-received material, the engineered microstructure contains a higher density of coherent interfaces and exhibits more pronounced microstructural evolution during tensile deformation, resulting in a 130% increase in yield strength while maintaining comparable ductility. Atomic-scale characterization integrated with density functional theory calculations reveal that during successive CTC cycles, partial dislocations nucleate within the ε-martensite and propagate along 111γ/0001ε planes, leading to the re-transformation back to γ or nano γ twins, thereby effectively reducing the inter-spacing. Crucially, in this metastable HEA the transformation-mediated twinning (TMT) exhibits a lower energy barrier than the classical layer-by-layer mechanism. Significant dislocation accumulation at the γ/ε interfaces generates intense local stresses, supplying the critical energies to activate TMT. Our work offers a valuable insight into the twinning mechanism and highlights a practical new way of developing very fine hierarchical γ/ε/γ-twin laminate microstructures with improved strength.Abstract: Metastable high-entropy alloys (HEAs) offer a practical strategy to achieve a good balance between strength and ductility through both deformation-induced (martensitic) phase transformations and solid solution strengthening effects. However, HEAs often have a low yield strength and a tendency towards deformation-induced martensite coarsening, which impedes the formation of refined microstructures that would improve the mechanical properties. Here, we demonstrate that in a prototype metastable Fe60Mn12Cr12Ni8Si8 HEA, a hierarchical γ/ε/γ-twin laminate structure can be achieved simply by cyclic tension-compression (CTC) processing. Compared to the as-received material, the engineered microstructure contains a higher density of coherent interfaces and exhibits more pronounced microstructural evolution during tensile deformation, resulting in a 130% increase in yield strength while maintaining comparable ductility. Atomic-scale characterization integrated with density functional theory calculations reveal that during successive CTC cycles, partial dislocations nucleate within the ε-martensite and propagate along 111γ/0001ε planes, leading to the re-transformation back to γ or nano γ twins, thereby effectively reducing the inter-spacing. Crucially, in this metastable HEA the transformation-mediated twinning (TMT) exhibits a lower energy barrier than the classical layer-by-layer mechanism. Significant dislocation accumulation at the γ/ε interfaces generates intense local stresses, supplying the critical energies to activate TMT. Our work offers a valuable insight into the twinning mechanism and highlights a practical new way of developing very fine hierarchical γ/ε/γ-twin laminate microstructures with improved strength.
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