Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of FeCoNiAlTi High-entropy Alloy

YANG Shenghao; SUN Qinhu; CHEN Zhibo; YE Hui; ZHAO Youxian; MA Pan; JIA Yandong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2025.12.006

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Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (12) : 54-61. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2025.12.006

Advanced Forming Engineering of High-Entropy and Amorphous Alloys

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of FeCoNiAlTi High-entropy Alloy

YANG Shenghao¹, SUN Qinhu¹, CHEN Zhibo¹, YE Hui¹, ZHAO Youxian¹, MA Pan^1,*, JIA Yandong²

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Abstract

The work aims to systematically investigate the effects of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of (FeCoNi)₈₆Al₇Ti₇ (at.%) high-entropy alloys prepared by vacuum arc melting, cold rolling and heat treatment processes. Characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were employed to systematically analyze the phase composition, microstructure and elemental distribution of this alloy. The recrystallized alloy consisted of a single-phase face-centered-cubic (FCC) solid solution with typical equiaxed grains and uniform elemental distribution, showing no significant chemical segregation. After aging treatment, notable changes in phase constitution and microstructure were observed. At 780 ℃ for 4 h, irregular lamellar L2₁ phases formed in the alloy. As the aging temperature increased, these irregular lamellar L2₁ phases gradually disappeared, with only a small amount of micron-sized L2₁ phases at grain boundaries, while a high density of coherent spherical L1₂ nanoprecipitates formed in the matrix. Mechanical tests revealed that the sample aged at 780 ℃ for 4 h exhibited the best combination of properties, with yield strength, tensile strength and elongation reaching 1 067.2 MPa, 1 504.4 MPa and 14.3%. This work not only provides crucial theoretical support for regulating the properties of high-entropy alloys through heat treatment, but also offers scientific guidance for further exploring the intrinsic relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties in the (FeCoNi)₈₆Al₇Ti₇ high-entropy alloy.

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high-entropy alloy / heat treatment / microstructure / mechanical properties

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YANG Shenghao, SUN Qinhu, CHEN Zhibo, YE Hui, ZHAO Youxian, MA Pan, JIA Yandong. Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of FeCoNiAlTi High-entropy Alloy[J]. Journal of Netshape Forming Engineering. 2025, 17(12): 54-61 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-6457.2025.12.006

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