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Updated: Aug 10, 2025
Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Pt-induced atomic-level tailoring towards paracrystalline high-entropy alloy
Xingjia He1, Yu Zhang1, Xinlei Gu1
1State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering and Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials, MOE, Jilin University, 130012, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
Researchers developed a new method to create a paracrystalline state in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) by precisely controlling atomic arrangements. This breakthrough offers a pathway to bridge amorphous and crystalline structures, enhancing material properties.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgy
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- The paracrystalline state, a link between amorphous and crystalline structures, is difficult to achieve in alloys.
- High-entropy alloys (HEAs) offer vast composition space and complex atomic interactions for novel material design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a controlled strategy for creating a paracrystalline state in HEAs.
- To investigate the role of atomic-level tailoring in achieving specific structural characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an "atomic-level tailoring" strategy in Zr-Nb-Hf-Ta-Mo HEAs.
- Incorporated platinum (Pt) with high negative mixing enthalpy to induce local amorphization and atomic reshuffling.
- Analyzed the formation of medium-range ordered (MRO) motifs and severe lattice distortions.
Main Results:
- Successfully created a paracrystalline HEA with high-density crystalline MRO motifs.
- Achieved significant material strengthening, with hardness of 16.6 GPa and yield strength of 8.37 GPa.
- Observed deformation via nanoscale shear-banding and nanocrystallization.
Conclusions:
- An enthalpy-guided atomic-level tailoring strategy enables controlled creation of paracrystalline HEAs.
- This approach allows for purposeful regulation of structural characteristics and material properties.
- The findings provide a new direction for exploring the amorphous-crystalline transition in alloy systems.
