Kinetic phase selection enables wide-temperature strength-ductility synergy in additively manufactured Al0.3CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy

Qiu H, Hu Y, Xu T, Cui W, Zhu Y, Xie S, Liu F, Chen Y, Wang C, Liu Y, Wang Q (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Acta Materialia Elsevier

Book Volume: 317

Article Number: 122584

DOI: 10.1016/j.actamat.2026.122584

Abstract

Conventional annealing of additively manufactured (AM) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) often induces brittle σ-phase precipitation, leading to severe embrittlement and limiting their applicability over a wide temperature range. In this work, a kinetically guided short-time annealing (STA) strategy is developed in a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) Al0.3CoCrFeNiMn HEA by identifying a 700 °C time window that limits σ-phase formation. The optimized 700 °C/15 min treatment generates a multiphase nanoscale architecture comprising coherent Al/Ni-rich FCC zones, a Cr-rich FCC phase, and B2 precipitates. As a result, the alloy exhibits a sustained strength–ductility synergy from −196 °C to 600 °C, with a yield strength of ∼1.16 GPa at -196 °C and ∼730 MPa at 600 °C, while maintaining a nearly constant total elongation of ∼11%. Notably, microstructural observations at -196 °C reveal that stacking faults readily cut through the Al/Ni-rich FCC zones, whereas the B2 phase strongly resists shearing. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal that the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) disparity drives a mechanistic transition from penetrable obstacle shearing to Orowan bypassing, ultimately prolonging work-hardening capability and uniform ductility. These findings demonstrate an effective kinetic phase-selection strategy for designing precipitation-strengthened LPBF HEAs with excellent mechanical performance across a wide temperature range.

Authors with CRIS profile

Shaoxiong Xie Lehrstuhl für Glas und Keramik (WW3)

Involved external institutions

Sichuan University (SCU) / 四川大学 CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Qiu, H., Hu, Y., Xu, T., Cui, W., Zhu, Y., Xie, S.,... Wang, Q. (2026). Kinetic phase selection enables wide-temperature strength-ductility synergy in additively manufactured Al0.3CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy. Acta Materialia, 317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2026.122584

MLA:

Qiu, Huwei, et al. "Kinetic phase selection enables wide-temperature strength-ductility synergy in additively manufactured Al0.3CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy." Acta Materialia 317 (2026).

BibTeX: Download