Ultrahigh strengthening effect induced by element addition in nanostructural (TiVCr)100−xWx medium entropy alloy

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 899; p. 163329
• Main Authors: Zhang, Z.J., Ma, Y.J., Han, X.T., Chen, J.H., Li, G.J., Shi, H.Q., Wang, L., Cao, Z.H., Meng, X.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 05-04-2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Alloys; Entropy; High entropy alloys; Mechanical properties; Medium entropy alloys; Nanocomposite; Nanocrystals; Precipitation hardening; Solid solutions; Strengthening; Strengthening effects; Thin films; High entropy alloys; Thin films; Nanocomposite; Strengthening effects
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.163329

•DC magnetron co-sputtering technology was performed to synthesize (TiVCr)100−xWx alloy films.•Doping W into TiVCr alloys film induces a phase transition from amorphous to quasicrystal and nanocrystal.•An ultrahigh strengthening effect where the strength is enhanced by two times was observed.
In this work, we have investigated the effect of W addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of equiatomic TiVCr medium entropy alloy films. It is found that a transition from amorphous phase to quasicrystal and nanocrystal occurs with increasing content of W, showing an improved crystallinity of the films. Hardness drastically increases with increasing W addition and reaches the maximum value of 7.2 GPa at 16.0 at% W content, which is two times higher than that of the initial sample. Amorphous phase strengthening, solid solution and precipitation strengthening become the dominant mechanism, responsible for the ultrahigh strengthening effect.