Refractory alloying additions on the thermal stability and mechanical properties of high-entropy alloys

Abstract In this study, alloying effects of Mo and W refractory elements on the microstructural evolution of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were systematically studied. High-density L12-type precipitates formed during the isothermal treatment at 800 °C. Alloying additions of Mo and W displayed different partitioning behaviors between the matrix and precipitate phases, with Mo partitioning to the matrix phase (KMo = 0.45) and W partitioning to the precipitates (Kw = 1.52) in the 1.5 at.% Mo and 1.5 at.% W alloyed HEA, respectively. A reversal in the partition of W back to the matrix (Kw = 0.95) was identified for the combined Mo and W alloying. It is demonstrated that W not only destabilizes the Heusler phase at grain boundaries but also increases the volume fraction of the precipitates. In addition, lattice misfit is significantly reduced after alloying with these refractory additions. The coarsening kinetics was also quantitatively described according to the modified-Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner model. The coarsening rate constant for the HEAs is significantly reduced as comparison with that for Ni- and Co-based superalloys, implying an improved thermal stability of HEAs. Moreover, a reduced interfacial energy together with inherently a small diffusivity of the refractory elements attributes to the improved thermal stability. Our findings show the remarkable thermal stability for HEAs and the potential for HEAs to be developed as new high-temperature structural materials.