Comparison of Dislocation Loop Formation Resistance in Nanocrystalline and Coarse-Grained Refractory High Entropy Alloys

In nanocrystalline high entropy alloys (HEAs), the difference in chemistry and the density of interfaces play a role in the microstructure evolution, although their relative importance is not well understood. Here, we compare data published in the literature regarding dislocation loop damage in pure W under ion irradiation to new results on nanocrystalline and coarse grained HEAs irradiated under single and dual ion beams. Dislocation loop damage evolution has been studied. The results suggest that both grain boundaries and grain matrices play important roles in the microstructure evolution of HEAs with grain matrices playing the dominant role. Graphical Abstract Irradiation response and dislocation loop damage in coarse-grained (a) and nanocrystallinegrained (b) W-based HEAs as compared to coarse-grained (c) and nanocrystalline-grained (d) pure W material.