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Exceptional high-strain-rate tensile mechanical properties in a CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy

CrCoNi中熵合金优异的高应变速率拉伸力学性能

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Abstract

Alloys with combined outstanding strength and excellent ductility are highly desirable for many structural applications. However, alloys subjected to deformation at very high strain rates and/or cryogenic temperatures usually suffer from very limited ductility. Here, we demonstrate that a bulk CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy presents exceptional combination of high strength and excellent ductility during deformation at high strain rates over a wide temperature range. Full tensile stress-strain curves at a high strain rate of 2000 s−1 and temperatures down to 77 K were successfully obtained using an electromagnetic Hopkinson tension bar system attached with a cooling device, revealing high true ultimate tensile strength (σUTS,T) of 1.8 GPa and true strain of ∼54% at σUTS,T. These outstanding mechanical properties were mainly attributed to profuse deformation twinning. Both high strain rate and cryogenic temperature promoted deformation twinning. Grain refinement caused by deformation twinning, dislocation slip and dynamic recrystallisation added to work hardening and the excellent tensile strain.

摘要

拥有优异的力学强度和拉伸塑性对于结构合金是非常重要的. 然而, 合金在高应变速率或者低温下变形时通常拉伸塑性非常有限. 本 文展示了块体CrCoNi中熵合金在高应变速率和低温下优异的综合拉 伸力学性能. 我们使用一种带冷却装置的电磁霍普金森拉杆装置得到 了在2000 s−1和77 K下完整的拉伸力学曲线. 结果表明合金在1.8 GPa下 具有超高的拉伸真应力(σUTS,T), 在σUTS,T下的拉伸真应变为∼54%. 该合 金优异的力学性能主要归因于大量变形孪晶的启动. 高应变速率和低 温都促使了孪晶的形成. 变形孪晶、滑移、动态再结晶引起的晶粒细 化促进了加工硬化, 从而增加了拉伸塑性.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the scientific and technical input and support from the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility node at the University of Sydney. Liao X was supported by the Australian Research Council (DP190102243).

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  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Peng Gao  (高鹏), Yiu-Wing Mai  (米耀荣) & Xiaozhou Liao  (廖晓舟)

  2. State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Ji Gu  (顾及), Song Ni  (倪颂) & Min Song  (宋旼)

  3. School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, 710072, China

    Zihao Ma  (马自豪), Tao Suo  (索涛) & Yulong Li  (李玉龙)

Authors
  1. Peng Gao  (高鹏)
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  2. Zihao Ma  (马自豪)
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  3. Ji Gu  (顾及)
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  4. Song Ni  (倪颂)
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  5. Tao Suo  (索涛)
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  6. Yulong Li  (李玉龙)
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  7. Min Song  (宋旼)
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  8. Yiu-Wing Mai  (米耀荣)
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  9. Xiaozhou Liao  (廖晓舟)
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Contributions

Liao X, Song M, and Li Y designed the study; Gao P prepared, acquired and analysed the microstructural data; Ma Z, Suo T, and Li Y conducted the mechanical tests; Gu J, Ni S, and Song M prepared the materials; Gao P, Liao X, and Mai YW wrote the paper. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the paper.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yulong Li  (李玉龙), Min Song  (宋旼) or Xiaozhou Liao  (廖晓舟).

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Peng Gao received his PhD degree in 2021 from the University of Sydney. He is employed as a research assistant at the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, the University of Sydney. His research interest involves high/medium-entropy alloys, light alloys, microstructural characterisation and in-situ microscopy.

Zihao Ma is currently pursuing his PhD degree at the School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU). He is studying the mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution of high-entropy alloys under dynamic impact.

Min Song is a professor and vise dean of Powder Metallurgy Research Institute at Central South University. He serves as associate editor of Materials Characterization. He received his PhD degree in 2005 at Dartmouth College, USA. His current research interests involve the deformation mechanisms of metallic materials, including: metals and alloys, bulk nanocrystalline materials, HEAs and metal matrix composites.

Yulong Li is a professor of Civil Aviation School and a chair professor at the School of Aeronautics, NPU. He received his PhD degree in solid mechanics from NPU in 1992. His research interests include dynamic response and failure of structures under impact loading, constitutive relationship for materials, experimental techniques for high-strain-rate behaviors of materials, as well as, numerical simulation of materials and structures under impact.

Xiaozhou Liao received his PhD degree in physics from the University of Sydney. He is currently a professor at the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, the University of Sydney. He uses advanced electron microscopy to examine materials at the atomic scale, laying the groundwork for the design of superior materials for a wide range of applications.

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Gao, P., Ma, Z., Gu, J. et al. Exceptional high-strain-rate tensile mechanical properties in a CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy. Sci. China Mater. 65, 811–819 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-021-1798-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-021-1798-6

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