Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W addition

The relatively low strength of ferrous medium-entropy alloys (Fe-MEAs) at room temperature has limited their widespread structural applications. In this study, a balanced strength and ductility were achieved in non-equiatomic [Fe64(CoCrNi)36]100−xWx (x = 0, 1, 2.5, and 4, at.%) Fe-MEAs via refractor...

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Main Authors: Yu Liao, Chuanwei Li, Luyao Cheng, Yiwei Wang, Hao Zhang, Yisi Song, Zhenhua Ye, Jianfeng Gu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752500509X
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author Yu Liao
Chuanwei Li
Luyao Cheng
Yiwei Wang
Hao Zhang
Yisi Song
Zhenhua Ye
Jianfeng Gu
author_facet Yu Liao
Chuanwei Li
Luyao Cheng
Yiwei Wang
Hao Zhang
Yisi Song
Zhenhua Ye
Jianfeng Gu
author_sort Yu Liao
collection DOAJ
description The relatively low strength of ferrous medium-entropy alloys (Fe-MEAs) at room temperature has limited their widespread structural applications. In this study, a balanced strength and ductility were achieved in non-equiatomic [Fe64(CoCrNi)36]100−xWx (x = 0, 1, 2.5, and 4, at.%) Fe-MEAs via refractory tungsten (W) alloying and a single-step hot-rolling process. Increasing W content reduces the fraction of the body-centered cubic phase while promoting the formation of W-rich μ and minor Laves phases. The 4W alloy exhibits a yield strength of 810 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 891 MPa, and an elongation-to-failure of 26.3%. The improved yield strength is attributed to the combined effects of solid solution strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation strengthening. Detailed analysis revealed that the ductile face-centered cubic matrix effectively suppresses the propagation of microcracks originating from the hard and brittle precipitates. Furthermore, dislocation-precipitate/grain boundary interactions, nanoscale deformation twins, and deformation-induced martensitic transformation collectively improve the work-hardening capacity. These findings offer valuable insights into the design and development of cost-effective, high-performance Fe-MEAs for advanced structural applications.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 0264-1275
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Materials & Design
spelling doaj-art-80e8d5709d2f44ceb8d068bc28d77a722025-08-20T03:46:47ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-06-0125411408910.1016/j.matdes.2025.114089Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W additionYu Liao0Chuanwei Li1Luyao Cheng2Yiwei Wang3Hao Zhang4Yisi Song5Zhenhua Ye6Jianfeng Gu7School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Laser Processing and Modification, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Corresponding authors.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Laser Processing and Modification, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Corresponding authors.The relatively low strength of ferrous medium-entropy alloys (Fe-MEAs) at room temperature has limited their widespread structural applications. In this study, a balanced strength and ductility were achieved in non-equiatomic [Fe64(CoCrNi)36]100−xWx (x = 0, 1, 2.5, and 4, at.%) Fe-MEAs via refractory tungsten (W) alloying and a single-step hot-rolling process. Increasing W content reduces the fraction of the body-centered cubic phase while promoting the formation of W-rich μ and minor Laves phases. The 4W alloy exhibits a yield strength of 810 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 891 MPa, and an elongation-to-failure of 26.3%. The improved yield strength is attributed to the combined effects of solid solution strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and precipitation strengthening. Detailed analysis revealed that the ductile face-centered cubic matrix effectively suppresses the propagation of microcracks originating from the hard and brittle precipitates. Furthermore, dislocation-precipitate/grain boundary interactions, nanoscale deformation twins, and deformation-induced martensitic transformation collectively improve the work-hardening capacity. These findings offer valuable insights into the design and development of cost-effective, high-performance Fe-MEAs for advanced structural applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752500509XFerrous medium-entropy alloysTungsten (W)Hot-rollingMicrostructureMechanical propertiesStrengthening mechanisms
spellingShingle Yu Liao
Chuanwei Li
Luyao Cheng
Yiwei Wang
Hao Zhang
Yisi Song
Zhenhua Ye
Jianfeng Gu
Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W addition
Materials & Design
Ferrous medium-entropy alloys
Tungsten (W)
Hot-rolling
Microstructure
Mechanical properties
Strengthening mechanisms
title Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W addition
title_full Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W addition
title_fullStr Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W addition
title_full_unstemmed Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W addition
title_short Achieving balanced strength and ductility in a Fe64(CoCrNi)36 ferrous medium-entropy alloy via W addition
title_sort achieving balanced strength and ductility in a fe64 cocrni 36 ferrous medium entropy alloy via w addition
topic Ferrous medium-entropy alloys
Tungsten (W)
Hot-rolling
Microstructure
Mechanical properties
Strengthening mechanisms
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026412752500509X
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