Search Results (174)

Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have attracted increasing attention for structural applications under extreme conditions; however, the uniformity and reliability of their mechanical properties remain critical challenges, particularly when processed by additive manufacturing. In this work, the microstructural heterogeneity and mechanical uniformity of a selective laser melting (SLM)-fabricated MoNbZrTaW RHEA were systematically investigated. Microstructural characterization revealed a dual-phase BCC structure with dendritic and interdendritic regions distributed along the build direction. Statistical analyses were employed to quantify variations in microstructure and mechanical properties, including hardness, fracture strength, yield strength, and fracture strain. The effects of strain rate and specimen aspect ratio on mechanical behavior were further examined through compression testing. Weibull statistical analysis demonstrated that strength-related properties exhibit high uniformity despite pronounced microstructural heterogeneity, whereas fracture strain shows comparatively greater scatter. The results indicate that solid-solution strengthening governs the mechanical response and helps mitigate the influence of microstructural non-uniformity. These findings provide important insights into the mechanical reliability of SLM-fabricated RHEAs under room-temperature quasi-static loading, and support their potential for further investigation in advanced structural applications. Full article

A metallic material resistant to the attack of both oxygen and sulfur at high temperatures has been desired for years. Unfortunately, commonly used commercial oxidation-resistant materials degrade rapidly in the presence of sulfur. Conversely, sulfidation-resistant metals oxidize at a rate that eliminates their practical use in oxygen-containing atmospheres. However, the latest studies in this area strongly suggest that some refractory high-entropy alloys produced by arc melting can be resistant to oxidation and sulfidation to a degree comparable to that of several traditional materials currently used in individual gas environments. Nevertheless, melting refractory metals require high temperatures and expensive equipment. To eliminate these difficulties, this work used hot pressing to fabricate the AlCrMoTaTi and AlCrNbTaTi refractory multi-component alloys, the resistance of which was tested thermogravimetrically in atmospheres containing oxygen and sulfur vapors at temperatures ranging from 800 to 1000 °C. The achieved results clearly indicate that although these alloys are not homogeneous, they exhibit high resistance. In general, both alloys react in accordance with the parabolic law, with the AlCrMoTaTi alloy exhibiting greater resistance than the AlCrNbTaTi counterpart. Consequently, these alloys can potentially be used not only as solid materials but also in coatings produced, for example, by plasma spraying. Full article

TiVZrTaHf_x (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3, molar ratio) refractory high entropy alloys were prepared by vacuum arc melting. XRD, SEM and compression tests were employed to characterize the effects of minor Hf doping on microstructure and compressive mechanical properties of the TiVZrTa alloy. The results indicated that TiVZrTaHf_x alloys gradually transform from a multiphase BCC structure to a single-phase BCC structure with increasing Hf content. Correspondingly, as-cast microstructure evolves from the coexistence of reticular morphology and dendrites into a relatively uniform dendritic structure, and elemental segregation was weakened. The compression results showed that the yield strength increases from 1139 MPa to 1253 MPa, while the compressive strain increases from 5.2% to 10.4%. In addition, the fracture mode changes from quasi-cleavage-dominated fracture to a brittle-ductile mixed fracture with more evident plastic tearing features. These results indicate that minor Hf addition can simultaneously improve the strength and compressive strain of the TiVZrTa alloy. Full article

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as an important class of materials for solid-state hydrogen storage because their compositional complexity provides access to diverse phase constitutions, local lattice environments, and hydrogen-related responses. However, hydrogen-storage behavior in these alloys cannot be understood from composition alone. What ultimately governs performance is the microstructural state generated during preparation. This perspective examines HEAs from that standpoint, focusing on how different preparation routes produce distinct structural states and how those states determine hydrogen accommodation, diffusion, phase transformation, and reversibility. Arc melting and subsequent homogenization typically generate bulk refractory alloys with comparatively simple average phase constitution, whereas mechanical alloying and reactive ball milling produce defect-rich, fine-scale, and metastable non-equilibrium structures. Representative systems are discussed to show that even alloys with similar nominal compositions may follow different hydriding pathways once their structurally realized state changes. The article further evaluates the structural descriptors most often invoked in the field, including phase constitution, local lattice environment, grain size, defect density, interface density, chemical homogeneity, and processing history. It is argued that future progress will depend less on continued composition screening alone than on establishing more transferable microstructure–hydrogen-storage relationships across route-defined structural states. Full article

The present study examined the interactions between the structure, microstructure and mechanical properties of CrMnFeCoNi, CrMnFeCoNiV_0.5 and CrMnFeCoNiMo_0.5 High-Entropy Alloys (HEAs). Starting from elemental powders, the HEAs were obtained by high-energy ball milling, followed by vacuum annealing at 1373 K for 1 h. After milling, a binary FCC-BCC solid solution was formed; the samples showed hardness values ranging from 800 to 973 HV. Evidence shows that annealing HEAs reduced the solubility of V and Mo in the alloys’ FCC structure. Additionally, the Cr content in the FCC phase also decreases. The carbon derived from the decomposition of the process control agent was trapped in the interstices of the HEA structure during mechanical alloying. This amount of carbon is sufficient to form carbides during annealing. The thermodynamic stability of the precursor elements in HEAs is a determining factor in M_xC_y-type formation. The hardness response of HEAs was associated with the HEAs’ structure, while the elastic modulus was affected by their microstructure. Full article

Local lattice distortion (LLD) arising from atomic size mismatch is an important structural feature of body-centered cubic (BCC) refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs). Reported LLDs are often difficult to compare across alloys because studies use different definitions and reference lattices. In this paper, we computed a consistent static DFT baseline for width-based LLD descriptors for three equimolar quaternary BCC RHEAs: NbTaTiV, TiZrNbMo, and the sparsely reported HfZrNbMo. The alloys were modeled as 128-atom special quasi-random structures and fully relaxed using density functional theory (DFT). Two complementary descriptors were evaluated from the relaxed geometries using a consistently defined reference lattice: a displacement-based metric derived from atomic off-site displacements and a shell-resolved bond length broadening metric for the first and second coordination shells. The resulting LLD descriptors have the lowest values for NbTaTiV, intermediate values for TiZrNbMo, and the highest for HfZrNbMo. Element-resolved analysis shows that individual species contribute differently to the overall distortion, information that is not captured by global descriptors alone. The pretrained MACE machine learning interatomic potential is assessed as a pre-relaxation step prior to DFT relaxation, as well as for screening candidate lattice parameters for HfZrNbMo. Full article

In this work, the hydrogenation behavior of a near-equiatomic Ti-V-Zr-Nb-Mo-Hf-Ta-W refractory high-entropy alloy (R-HEA) exposed to pressurized hydrogen has been thoroughly investigated. Isothermal gas-phase hydrogen absorption experiments have been performed and a maximum uptake of 1.13 wt.% H has been achieved after exposure to a pure H₂ atmosphere at 350 °C and 60 bar H₂ for 6 h. This hydrogen absorption capacity is rather low compared to previous literature, where capacities as high as 2.7 wt.% have been reported. The presence of two distinct (Hf,Zr)-mixed oxides at the surface of the particles has been deduced from X-ray diffraction analyses and identified as the main reason for the relatively low H uptake and the minimal impact onto the mechanical integrity of the R-HEA after hydrogenation. The results hereby reported suggest that R-HEAs containing strong oxide-forming elements such as Hf, Zr, and Ti undergo surface hydrogenation-regeneration upon intermittent exposure to a hydrogen atmosphere. The cyclic nature of such phenomena should be further investigated, as it could lead to the development of novel, self-regenerating protective materials against hydrogen diffusion and embrittlement to be potentially used as permeation barriers. Full article

The persistent discharge of refractory toxic organic pollutants poses a severe threat to aquatic environmental safety, driving the urgent demand for high-efficiency water treatment technologies in environmental engineering. Fenton and Fenton-like oxidation processes have garnered extensive attention due to their robust oxidizing capacity and environmental benignity; however, traditional Fenton systems are constrained by inherent limitations, including a narrow applicable pH range, potential secondary pollution, and cumbersome catalyst recovery. To address these challenges, Fenton-like catalysts have evolved progressively from single-metal systems to multi-metal alloy configurations. This review systematically elaborates on the fundamental principles and technical bottlenecks of classical Fenton and Fenton-like reactions, while comprehensively summarizing the research progress of multi-metal alloy catalysts—encompassing binary alloys, multi-component alloys, and high-entropy alloys. Special emphasis is placed on dissecting the core mechanisms through which multi-metal alloys optimize redox cycles and enhance structural stability, leveraging intermetallic synergistic effects, unique electronic structures, and lattice distortion. Furthermore, this work synthesizes key performance enhancement strategies for such catalysts, including co-catalyst synergy, external field assistance, and supported composite modification. Ultimately, this review aims to provide a scientific foundation and technical reference for the rational design, development, and engineering application of high-performance Fenton-like catalysts in sustainable wastewater remediation. Full article

Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have garnered attention for their exceptional high-temperature mechanical properties, making them suitable for aerospace and energy applications. However, balancing strength and ductility remains a challenge due to the presence of Laves phases. In this study, Al_0.5Nb_0.5TiV₂Zr_x (x = 0–2.0) alloys were prepared using vacuum arc melting, and their microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were analyzed. At room temperature, the Al_0.5Nb_0.5TiV₂Zr_0.5 alloy exhibits the highest yield strength (1658.1 MPa), which is primarily attributed to strong lattice distortion induced by Zr and moderate precipitation strengthening from Laves phases. In contrast, at higher Zr contents, excessive Laves phase precipitation promotes stress concentration, leading to a marked reduction in both strength and ductility. High-temperature compression tests revealed that the Al_0.5Nb_0.5TiV₂Zr_0.5 and Al_0.5Nb_0.5TiV₂Zr_1.5 alloys still exhibited over 50% compressive plasticity at 800 °C and 1000 °C. However, when the temperature reached 1000 °C, the instability of the Laves phase led to a reduction in the yield strength to below 160 MPa, indicating that the effect of solid-solution strengthening was no longer significant under high-temperature conditions. These findings clarify the critical role of Zr content and temperature in governing the microstructural and mechanical evolution of the Al–Nb–Ti–V–Zr system and provide a theoretical basis for achieving an optimized strength–ductility balance in RHEAs through compositional control. Full article

The structure and composition of a refractory Ni-containing CrMoNbTaVW high-entropy-alloy (HEA) thin film were investigated. The HEA thin film with a thickness of 5 μm was grown via conventional direct current magnetron sputtering from a multiple-elemental compound target. The Ni-containing HEA thin film with a Ni concentration of 3.6 at. % exhibits a single-phase body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure with a lattice parameter of a = 0.316 nm. The grains in the HEA thin film are columns, extended in the growth direction. They are not aligned exactly perpendicular to the substrate surface. The thin film grows in a polycrystalline structure with a tendency to preferred orientation or texture. Energy-dispersive X-ray analyses of the HEA thin film show near-equal atomic concentrations of Cr, Mo, Nb, Ta, V, and W elements in the range 15–17 at. % with almost uniform distribution. In contrast, Ni is not uniformly distributed in the film, and grains with a different Ni concentrations were observed. The defects observed in the HEA thin film are mainly single dislocations or an assembly of dislocations, which could be caused by residual stresses in the layer forming during the growth of the HEA thin film. Full article

In order to improve the wear resistance of titanium alloy and apply it to the high-speed train brake disc, TiNbZrV_x (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) refractory medium-entropy alloy coatings were prepared on Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) substrate. The effect of V content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and friction and wear properties of the coatings was studied. TiNbZrV_x coatings achieved good metallurgical bonding with the substrate, forming BCC and B2 phases and AlZr₃ intermetallic compound (IMC). From TiNbZr coating to TiNbZrV_0.8 coating, V promotes element segregation and new phase formation, which decreased the average grain size from 85.055 μm to 56.515 μm, increased the average hardness from 265.5 HV to 343.4 HV, and reduced the room temperature (RT) wear rate by 97.8%. However, the ductility of the coatings decreased from 15.7% to 5.8% because the grain boundary precipitates changed the dislocation arrangement, and the tensile fracture mode changed from ductile fracture to brittle fracture. Abrasive wear was the main wear mode at RT, and adhesive wear and oxidation wear were the main wear modes at elevated temperature. The COF at elevated temperature was lower than that at RT, because a large number of friction pair components were transferred to the coating surface at high temperature and were repeatedly rolled to form a dense film, which played a certain lubricating role. Full article

Among corrosive environments, Cl⁻ is one of the most aggressive anions which can cause electrochemical corrosion and the resultant failures of alloys, and the increase in Cl⁻ concentration will further deteriorate the passive film in many conventional alloys. Here, we report single-phase Nb₂₅Mo₂₅Ta₂₅Ti₂₀W₅C_x (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.8 at.%) refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) with excellent corrosion resistance in high-concentration NaCl solutions. According to potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, corroded morphology and the current–time results, the RHEAs demonstrate even better corrosion resistance with the increase in NaCl concentration to 23.5 wt.%, significantly superior to 304 L stainless steel. Typically, the corrosion current density (i_corr) and over-passivation potential (E_t) reached the lowest and highest value, respectively, in the 23.5 wt.% NaCl solution, and the i_corr (2.36 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm²) of Nb₂₅Mo₂₅Ta₂₅Ti₂₀W₅C_0.1 alloy is nearly two orders lower than that of 304 L stainless steel (1.75 × 10⁻⁵ A/cm²). The excellent corrosion resistance results from the formation of passive films with fewer defects and more stable oxides. Moreover, with the addition of the appropriate C element, the RHEAs also demonstrated improved strength and plasticity simultaneously, for example, the Nb₂₅Mo₂₅Ta₂₅Ti₂₀W₅C_0.3 alloy exhibited an average yield strength of 1368 MPa and a plastic strain of 19.7%. The present findings provide useful guidance to address the conflict between the excellent corrosion resistance and high strength of advanced alloys. Full article

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted significant attention due to their exceptional physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The current development of HEAs primarily depends on time-consuming and costly trial-and-error approaches, which not only hinder the efficient exploration of new compositions but also result in unnecessary resource and energy consumption, thereby negatively affecting sustainable development and production. To address this challenge, this study introduces a machine learning-based methodology for predicting the yield strengths of various HEA compositions. The model was trained using 181 data points and achieved an R² performance score of 0.85. To further assess its reliability and generalization capability, the model was validated using external data not included in the collected dataset. The validation was performed across four categories: modified Cantor alloys, refractory HEAs, eutectic HEAs, and other HEAs. The predicted yield strength trends were found to align with the actual experimental trends, demonstrating the model’s robust performance across various categories of HEAs. The proposed machine learning approach is expected to facilitate the combinatorial design of HEAs, thereby enabling efficient optimization of compositions and accelerating the development of novel alloys. Moreover, it has the potential to serve as a guideline for sustainable alloy design and environmentally conscious production in future HEA development. Full article

Some cast metallic alloys for ultra-high-temperature structural applications can have better mechanical properties compared with Ni-based superalloys. Research on the directional solidification (DS) of such alloys is limited. The production of DS components of these alloys with “tailor-made” microstructures in different parts of the component has not been considered. This paper attempts to address these issues. A bar of the RCCA/RM(Nb)IC with nominal composition 3.5Al–4Crc6Ge–1Hf–5Mo–36Nb–22Si–1.5Sn–20Ti–1W (at.%) was directionally grown using OFZ processing, where the growth rate R increased from 1.2 to 6 and then to 15 cm/h. The paper studies how the macrosegregation of the elements affected the microstructure in different parts of the bar. It was shown that the synergy of macrosegregation and growth rate produced microstructures from the edge to the centre of the OFZ bar and along the length of the OFZ bar that differed in type and chemical composition as R increased. Contamination with oxygen was confined to the “root” of the part of the bar that was grown with R = 1.2 cm/h. The concentrations of elements in the bar were related (a) to each of the parameters VEC, Δχ, and δ for different sections, (i) across the thickness and (ii) along the length of the bar, or to each other for different sections of the bar, and demonstrated the synergy and entanglement of processing, parameters, and elements. In the centre of the bar, the phases were the Nb_ss and Nb₅Si₃ for all R values. In the bar, the silicide formed with Nb/(Ti + Hf) less or greater than one. There was synergy of solutes in the solid solution and the silicide for all R values, and synergy and entanglement of the two phases. Owing to the synergy and entanglement of processing, parameters, elements, and phases, properties would “emerge” in each part of the bar. The creep and oxidation properties of the bar were calculated as guided by the alloy design methodology NICE. It was suggested that, in principle, a component based on a metallic UHTM with “functionally graded” composition, microstructure and properties could be directionally grown. Full article

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are a class of multi-principal element materials composed of five or more elements in near-equimolar ratios. This unique compositional design generates high configurational entropy, which stabilizes simple solid solution phases and reduces the tendency for intermetallic compound formation. Unlike conventional alloys, HEAs exhibit a combination of properties that are often mutually exclusive, such as high strength and ductility, excellent thermal stability, superior corrosion and oxidation resistance. The exceptional mechanical performance of HEAs is attributed to mechanisms including lattice distortion strengthening, sluggish diffusion, and multiple active deformation pathways such as dislocation slip, twinning, and phase transformation. Advanced characterization techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atom probe tomography (APT), and in situ mechanical testing have revealed the complex interplay between microstructure and properties. Computational approaches, including CALPHAD modeling, density functional theory (DFT), and machine learning, have significantly accelerated HEA design, allowing prediction of phase stability, mechanical behavior, and environmental resistance. Representative examples include the FCC-structured CoCrFeMnNi alloy, known for its exceptional cryogenic toughness, Al-containing dual-phase HEAs, such as AlCoCrFeNi, which exhibit high hardness and moderate ductility and refractory HEAs, such as NbMoTaW, which maintain ultra-high strength at temperatures above 1200 °C. Despite these advances, challenges remain in controlling microstructural homogeneity, understanding long-term environmental stability, and developing cost-effective manufacturing routes. This review provides a comprehensive and analytical study of recent progress in HEA research (focusing on literature from 2022–2025), covering thermodynamic fundamentals, design strategies, processing techniques, mechanical and chemical properties, and emerging applications, through highlighting opportunities and directions for future research. In summary, the review’s unique contribution lies in offering an up-to-date, mechanistically grounded, and computationally informed study on the HEAs research-linking composition, processing, structure, and properties to guide the next phase of alloy design and application. Full article