Copper-containing coherent intermetallic compound precipitation strengthening for high strength and plasticity of medium entropy Zr alloys

In this work, the mechanical properties and microstructures of ZrFeCrTiCu MEAs prepared by mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering as well as their heat-treated Samples were investigated Based on XRD, SEM, and compression properties, the effects of structure, quantity, and distribution of precipitated phases on the mechanical properties of ZrFeCrTiCu MEAs were discussed. The results show that BCC matrix as well as Zr(Fe, Cr)2, Zr2Fe, Zr2Cu precipitated phases and zirconium oxides are formed in the alloy. The increase in Cu content triggered changes in the alloy microstructures and morphology as well as in the Zr2Cu precipitation phase. Hightemperature quenching led to the selective growth of {111}Zr2Cu crystal planes and the coarsening of the alloy organization. The above factors cooperatively affect the mechanical properties of the alloy. The compression performance test shows that the ZrFeCrTiCu MEAs strengthened by the precipitation phase with a coherent structure have high compressive strength, and the fracturing method is cleavage fracture. The quenched ZrFeCrTiCu MEAs exhibit better compression performance. It provides a method for optimizing the mechanical properties of zirconium-containing alloys for nuclear reactors.