| Title: | Tuning needle-like precipitation for enhanced strength-ductility synergy in a non-equiatomic FeNiCoCuTi high-entropy alloy | |
| Author: | Li-ran Huang1, 2, Zhi-ming Li3, Wei-ping Chen1, 2, and *Zhi-qiang Fu1, 2 | |
| Address: | 1. Guangdong Key Laboratory for Advanced Metallic Materials Processing, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; 2. National Engineering Research Center of Near-net-shape Forming for Metallic Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; 3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China | |
| Key words: | high-entropy alloys; η-D024 phase; microstructural evolution; phase transformation; mechanical behavior | |
| CLC Nmuber: | TG143 | |
| Document Code: | A | |
| Article ID: | 1672-6421(2026)03-303-12 | |
| Abstract: |
Precipitation strengthening is an effective strengthening strategy widely utilized in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) with a single-phased face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. In recent research works, reinforcing phase adopted are mostly focused on equiaxed or nearly equiaxed structures (e.g., spherical, cubic, and rod-like), while relatively rare studies on the strengthening effects of needle-like precipitates with large aspect ratios. The η-D024 phase, like the L12 strengthening phase most commonly used in fcc-structured HEAs, features an ordered Ni3Ti-type structure and also exhibits a comparable strengthening effect. However, since the η phase often co-precipitates with other precipitates in alloy system, the strengthening effect of the sole η-D024 phase in fcc-structured alloys remains to be further explored. In this study, microstructural evolution, phase transformation, and mechanical behaviors of a non-equiatomic Fe27Ni27Co26Cu10Ti10 HEA were systematically investigated. Results show that following high-temperature heat treatment, the microstructure of the studied HEA transforms from a combination of the fcc, L12, Cu-rich, and η phases in the as-cast state to a fcc+η structure in the heat-treated state. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of the heat-treated HEA are significantly improved, with a total elongation increasing from approximately 0.9% to 7.5%. The enhanced ductility of the heat-treated alloy can be attributed to the strong hindering effect of numerous needle-like η phase at the grain boundaries, which restricts crack propagation and dislocation movement. This study develops a novel η-strengthened FeNiCoCuTi HEA, expanding the selection of available reinforcing phases in fcc-structured alloys and providing valuable insights into the phase transformation and strengthening effect of the η-D024 phase.
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