A novel cast Co68Al18.2Fe6.5V4.75Cr2.55 dual-phase medium entropy alloy with superior high-temperature performance

A newly-designed Co68Al18.2Fe6.5V4.75Cr2.55 medium entropy alloy (MEA) with FCC + B2 structure exhibits not only an excellent strength-ductility combination at room temperature, but also an outstanding high-temperature mechanical properties in particular. The phase formation, microstructure and deformation mechanism of this designed dual-phase MEA at room and high temperatures were investigated and discussed in detail. Based on experimental results (XRD, SEM and TEM) and theoretical analysis (calculated diagram and empirical thermodynamic parameters), it is demonstrated that this newly-designed MEA consists of a dual-phase structure of a face-centered-cubic (FCC) phase (70.3 vol %) plus chemically ordered body-centered cubic phase (B2) (29.7 vol %). Meanwhile, the FCC phase is enriched with Co, Fe and Cr elements, while the B2 phase is enriched with Al and Co elements. Furthermore, compared with some HEAs/MEAs and commercial alloys, this newly-designed dual-phase MEA exhibits excellent strength-ductility combination with a high compressive yield strength of ∼1254 MPa, a fracture strength of ∼2657 MPa and a large compressive plasticity of ∼34.6 % at room temperature. In particular, the studied MEA also shows an outstanding high-temperature performance with an ultrahigh yield strength of ∼1213 MPa at 600 °C and ∼626 MPa at 800 °C, respectively. The excellent comprehensive mechanical properties of this designed dual-phase MEA at both room and temperatures mainly originate from synergy effect of alternate FCC + B2 structure and strengthening contributions of B2 phase. These important findings not only reveal the deformation and strengthening mechanisms of the newly-designed dual-phase MEA, but also provides an effective alloy design strategy for developing advanced structural materials serving as a wide range of temperature.