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CrCoNi-based medium- and high-entropy alloys display outstanding damage tolerance, especially at cryogenic temperatures. In this study, we examined the fracture toughness values of the equiatomic CrCoNi and CrMnFeCoNi alloys at 20 kelvin (K). We found exceptionally high crack-initiation fracture toughnesses of 262 and 459 megapascal-meters½ (MPam½) for CrMnFeCoNi and CrCoNi, respectively; CrCoNi displayed a crack-growth toughness exceeding 540 MPam½ after 2.25 millimeters of stable cracking. Crack-tip deformation structures at 20 K are quite distinct from those at higher temperatures. They involve nucleation and restricted growth of stacking faults, fine nanotwins, and transformed epsilon martensite, with coherent interfaces that can promote both arrest and transmission of dislocations to generate strength and ductility. We believe that these alloys develop fracture resistance through a progressive synergy of deformation mechanisms, dislocation glide, stacking-fault formation, nanotwinning, and phase transformation, which act in concert to prolong strain hardening that simultaneously elevates strength and ductility, leading to exceptional toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A FeCoCrNiMo 0.23 high entropy alloy was processed by powder metallurgy with two conditions: hot extruded and annealed. In situ neutron diffraction, together with electron microscopy, was used to study the deformation mechanisms and concomitant microstructural evolution for both conditions. The as-extruded alloy has a single face-centered-cubic structure with a calculated stacking fault energy of ∼19 mJ/m 2 . When the alloy is tensile deformed, nano-twins and microbands are induced, resulting in an excellent combination of strength and ductility (784 MPa ultimate tensile strength and over 50% elongation). Annealing at 800 °C for 72 h increases the strength of the alloy but decreases its ductility. This is due to the decomposition of the alloy after annealing, causing the formation of Mo-rich intermetallic particles and a decrease of the stacking fault probability. These results highlight that combined mechanisms (i.e. solute strengthening and twin/microband induced plasticity) can effectively improve both the strength and ductility of high entropy alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deformation mechanisms of high entropy alloys (HEAs) at cryogenic temperatures have attracted extensive research interest. We used in situ neutron diffraction to study the tensile behavior of a face-centered-cubic HEA at 77 and 15 K and compared its stacking fault energy (SFE) at ambient and cryogenic temperatures. The SFE dropped from 28 mJm−2 at 293 K to 11 mJm−2 at 15 K, leading to the transition of deformation mechanism from deformation-induced twinning to martensite phase transformation. As a result, excellent balance of strength and ductility was achieved at both temperatures. This finding highlights the importance of SFE for cryogenic alloy design. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In-situ neutron diffraction was employed to monitor the evolution of nano-bainitic ferrite during low temperature isothermal heat treatment of austenite. The first 10 peaks (austenite, γ and ferrite, α) were monitored during austenization, homogenisation, rapid cooling and isothermal holding at 573K. Changes in the α-110 and γ-111 peaks were analysed to determine the volume fraction changes and hence the kinetics of the phase transformation. Asymmetry and broadening in the α-200 and γ-200 peaks were quantified to lattice parameter changes due to carbon redistribution as well as the effects of size and dislocation density. Atom Probe Tomography was then used to confirm that, despite the presence of 1.5 mass% Si, carbide formation was evident. This carbide formation is the cause of poor ductility, which is lower than expected in such steels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]