Effect of Heat Treatments on the Microstructural Evolution of a Single Crystal High-Entropy Superalloy

The effect of solution heat treatment as well as primary and secondary aging treatment conditions on the microstructural evolution of a high-entropy superalloy was investigated. The as-cast sample shows coarsened γ′ precipitates and other extra phases at interdendrite region due to microsegregation. This microsegregation makes γ′ solvus unclear and decreases the solidus. After conducting the solution treatment determined in this study, primary aging conditions showing an aligned cubic γ′ phase at 1050 °C for 4 h and random spherical γ′ precipitates at 950 °C for 20 h in similar size were found. By using both samples, secondary aging conditions showing coarsened secondary γ′ precipitates and γ particles inside the γ′ precipitates at 800 °C for 20 h and fine secondary γ′ precipitates at 850 and 870 °C for 20 h were found.

Microstructural Evolution from Dendrites to Core-Shell Equiaxed Grain Morphology for CoCrFeNiVx High-Entropy Alloys in Metallic Casting Mold

The CoCrFeNiVx (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were fabricated by the copper mold casting process. The microstructure, phase constitution, and mechanical properties were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy analyses and compressive testing. It revealed that, when x ≤ 0.25, the alloys solidified into a single fcc phase. When 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 0.8, the alloys solidified into a dendritic structure of the fcc phase with the formation of the σ phase in the interdendrite region. Interestingly, when x exceeded 0.9, the alloys presented a typical core-shell equiaxed grain morphology. The core region consisting of a mixture of fcc + σ phases was surrounded by the shell of the single σ phase and the interdendrite region solidified into the single fcc phase. The dual-phase “eutectiod” structure in the core region of the equiaxed grain might be formed from the decomposition of the unidentified metastable phase. As the V fraction increased, the compressive yield strength of the CoCrFeNiVx alloys gradually increased from 164 MPa (x = 0) to 458 MPa (x = 0.8), and then sharply increased to 722 MPa (x = 0.9) and 1493 MPa (x = 1.0).

Effects of Microstructure and Partial Melting on Tensile Properties of AZ91 Magnesium Cast Alloy

Mechanical properties of AZ91 cast alloy depend strongly on the morphology (size and distribution) of the second (β-Mg17Al12) phase. It was observed that low ductility of AZ91 alloy was attributed to the brittle nature of the β phase particles at which microcracks initiated. These microcracks then coalesced contributing to the fracture of alloy. Quantitative study on microcracking progress revealed that cast samples with coarse microstructures fractured at low strain due to the non-uniform distribution of bulk blocky β particles at interdendrite region. These fracture surfaces exhibited clear cleavage mode. Fine cast microstructure presented quasicleavage fracture mode with clear dimple and tear ridges. The partial melting (and resolidification) heat treatment improved tensile properties, which was in disagreement with the available data from literature.