Phase Volume Fraction-Dependent Strengthening in a Nano- Laminated Dual-Phase High-Entropy Alloy

A recently synthesized FCC/HCP nano-laminated dual-phase (NLDP) CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy (HEA) exhibits excellent strength-ductility synergy. However, the underlying strengthening mechanisms of such a novel material is far from being understood. In this work, large-scale atomistic simulations of in-plane tension of the NLDP HEA are carried out in order to explore the HCP phase volume fraction-dependent strengthening. It is found that the dual-phase (DP) structure can significantly enhance the strength of the material, and the strength shows apparent phase volume fraction dependence. The yield stress increases monotonously with the increase of phase volume fraction, resulting from the increased inhibition effect of interphase boundary (IPB) on the nucleation of partial dislocations in the FCC lamella. There exists a critical phase volume fraction, where the flow stress is the largest. The mechanisms for the volume fraction-dependent flow stress include volume fraction-dependent phase strengthening effect, volume fraction-dependent IPB strengthening effect, and volume fraction-dependent IPB softening effect, that is, IPB migration and dislocation nucleation from the dislocation-IPB reaction sites. This work can provide a fundamental understanding for the physical mechanisms of strengthening effects in face-centered cubic HEAs with a nanoscale NLDP structure.