Comparison of the structure and properties of equiatomic and non-equiatomic multicomponent alloys

A series of equiatomic and non-equiatomic Fe x (NiCrCo) 100− x (at.-%, x  = 25, 45, 55, 65, 75 and 85) multicomponent alloys were prepared and studied. With the increase in x , the phase structure of the alloys evolves from a single FCC phase ( x  = 25, 45 and 55), to a mixture of FCC and BCC phases ( x  = 55) and finally to a single BCC phase ( x  = 65 and 75). As a result, the BCC-structured alloys have much higher strength and hardness than the FCC-structured alloys. The existing VEC criteria are unable to predict the FCC-BCC phase transition in these alloys.