Deconvolution-based peak profile analysis methods for characterization of CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Metallurgy
• Crystallography

Background:

• High-entropy alloys (HEAs) like CoCrFeMnNi are crucial for advanced applications.
• Understanding plastic deformation mechanisms in HEAs requires precise characterization of microstructural changes.
• Peak profile analysis is a key technique for investigating lattice defects and crystallite size evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of various peak profile analysis methods for deformed CoCrFeMnNi HEA.
• To identify limitations of the conventional Williamson-Hall (cWH) method.
• To evaluate the improved correlation offered by modified Williamson-Hall (mWH) and modified Warren-Averbach (mWA) methods.

Main Methods:

• Experimental characterization of CoCrFeMnNi HEA subjected to axial compression.
• Application and comparison of conventional Williamson-Hall (cWH) analysis.
• Implementation and validation of modified Williamson-Hall (mWH) and modified Warren-Averbach (mWA) analyses, including elastic modulus corrections.

Main Results:

• The conventional Williamson-Hall (cWH) method shows poor correlation with experimental peak broadening data.
• Modified Williamson-Hall (mWH) and modified Warren-Averbach (mWA) methods, with appropriate corrections, significantly improve the correlation.
• Dislocation density in CoCrFeMnNi HEA increases with strain, plateauing at 47.5%, while crystallite size decreases and disorder increases.

Conclusions:

• Modified peak profile analysis methods (mWH, mWA) are superior to cWH for studying deformed HEAs.
• Accurate analysis of peak broadening is essential for understanding dislocation evolution and microstructural changes in HEAs.
• The study provides a refined approach for characterizing the mechanical behavior and microstructural evolution of CoCrFeMnNi HEA under plastic deformation.