Solid-solution phase formation rules for multi-component alloys

The microstructure characteristics of the multi-component high-entropy alloys (MHAs) in terms of their atomic-size difference and enthalpy of mixing have been discussed to help predict the solid-solution formation in various MHAs. Each component element in MHAs could be regarded as a solute atom, together with the lattice distortion caused by a large atomic radius difference between so many components, which make the structure of the solid solution in MHAs distinctive from that of pure metal and common alloys. The parameter to describe the effect of the atomic-size difference in MHAs was given. The function to determine mixing enthalpy that is used to characterize the chemical compatibility among the many principal components in MHAs was also provided.