Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A Review

The excellent mechanical properties of high-entropy alloys, especially under harsh service environments, have attracted increasing attention in the last decade. FCC-based and refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are the most extensively used series. However, the strength of FCC-base HEAs is insuffi...

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Main Authors: Shuohong She, Chengxi Wang, Ming Chen, Vincent Ji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Metals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/3/247
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author Shuohong She
Chengxi Wang
Ming Chen
Vincent Ji
author_facet Shuohong She
Chengxi Wang
Ming Chen
Vincent Ji
author_sort Shuohong She
collection DOAJ
description The excellent mechanical properties of high-entropy alloys, especially under harsh service environments, have attracted increasing attention in the last decade. FCC-based and refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are the most extensively used series. However, the strength of FCC-base HEAs is insufficient, although they possess a great ductility and fracture toughness at both room and low temperatures. With regard to the BCC-based refractory HEAs, the unsatisfactory ductility at room temperature shadows their ultrahigh strength at room and high temperatures, as well as their excellent thermal stability. In order to strike a balance between strength and toughness, strengthening mechanisms should be first clarified. Therefore, typical mechanical performance and corresponding strengthening factors are systemically summarized, including the solid solution strengthening, second phase, interface, and synergistic effects for FCC-base HEAs, along with the optimization of principal elements, construction of multi-phase, the doping of non-metallic interstitial elements, and the introduction of kink bands for refractory HEAs. Among which the design of meta-stable structures, such as chemical short-range order, and kink bands has been shown to be a promising strategy to further improve the mechanical properties of HEAs.
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spelling doaj-art-e866eb155ed14082b678eb7d561cd7bd2025-08-20T03:43:37ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012025-02-0115324710.3390/met15030247Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A ReviewShuohong She0Chengxi Wang1Ming Chen2Vincent Ji3Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, ChinaFaculty of Transportation Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, ChinaInstitut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d’Orsay, UMR CNRS 8182, Universite Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay, FranceThe excellent mechanical properties of high-entropy alloys, especially under harsh service environments, have attracted increasing attention in the last decade. FCC-based and refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are the most extensively used series. However, the strength of FCC-base HEAs is insufficient, although they possess a great ductility and fracture toughness at both room and low temperatures. With regard to the BCC-based refractory HEAs, the unsatisfactory ductility at room temperature shadows their ultrahigh strength at room and high temperatures, as well as their excellent thermal stability. In order to strike a balance between strength and toughness, strengthening mechanisms should be first clarified. Therefore, typical mechanical performance and corresponding strengthening factors are systemically summarized, including the solid solution strengthening, second phase, interface, and synergistic effects for FCC-base HEAs, along with the optimization of principal elements, construction of multi-phase, the doping of non-metallic interstitial elements, and the introduction of kink bands for refractory HEAs. Among which the design of meta-stable structures, such as chemical short-range order, and kink bands has been shown to be a promising strategy to further improve the mechanical properties of HEAs.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/3/247high-entropy alloymechanical propertystrengthening mechanismmicrostructure
spellingShingle Shuohong She
Chengxi Wang
Ming Chen
Vincent Ji
Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A Review
Metals
high-entropy alloy
mechanical property
strengthening mechanism
microstructure
title Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A Review
title_full Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A Review
title_fullStr Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A Review
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A Review
title_short Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanisms of FCC-Based and Refractory High-Entropy Alloys: A Review
title_sort mechanical properties and strengthening mechanisms of fcc based and refractory high entropy alloys a review
topic high-entropy alloy
mechanical property
strengthening mechanism
microstructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/3/247
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AT chengxiwang mechanicalpropertiesandstrengtheningmechanismsoffccbasedandrefractoryhighentropyalloysareview
AT mingchen mechanicalpropertiesandstrengtheningmechanismsoffccbasedandrefractoryhighentropyalloysareview
AT vincentji mechanicalpropertiesandstrengtheningmechanismsoffccbasedandrefractoryhighentropyalloysareview