journal article Open Access Apr 20, 2024

Nanoindentation into a bcc high-entropy HfNbTaTiZr alloy—an atomistic study of the effect of short-range order

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Abstract
AbstractThe plastic response of the Senkov HfNbTaTiZr high-entropy alloy is explored by means of simulated nanoindentation tests. Both a random alloy and an alloy with chemical short-range order are investigated and compared to the well understood case of an elementary Ta crystal. Strong differences in the dislocation plasticity between the alloys and the elementary Ta crystal are found. The high-entropy alloys show only little relaxation of the indentation dislocation network after indenter retraction and only negligible dislocation emission into the sample interior. Short-range order—besides making the alloy both stiffer and harder—further increases the size of the plastic zone and the dislocation density there. These features are explained by the slow dislocation migration in these alloys. Also, the short-range-ordered alloy features no twinning plasticity in contrast to the random alloy, while elemental Ta exhibits twinning under high stress but detwins considerably under stress relief. The results are in good qualitative agreement with our current knowledge of plasticity in high-entropy alloys.
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Published
Apr 20, 2024
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14(1)
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Funding
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Award: GU1530/11- 1
Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau
Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación Award: PICTO-UUMM- 2019-00048
Simulation Science Center Clausthal/Göttingen
Cite This Article
Iyad Alabd Alhafez, Orlando R. Deluigi, Diego Tramontina, et al. (2024). Nanoindentation into a bcc high-entropy HfNbTaTiZr alloy—an atomistic study of the effect of short-range order. Scientific Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59761-6