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Published on: March 7, 2018
In Situ Hierarchical Nanostructures toward Unprecedented Wear Resistance in Eutectic High-Entropy Alloys
Xiaoyu Bai1, Bokun Zhang1, Mingchuan Hu1
1State Key Laboratory of Solidification Processing, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an710072, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed advanced eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) with nanoscale carbides and precipitates. This hierarchical nanostructure design significantly improves wear resistance in metallic materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Modulating multiphase microstructures is crucial for enhancing metallic material wear properties.
- Eutectic high-entropy alloys (EHEAs) offer a microcomposite structure for advanced material design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize nanoscale eutectic carbides and ultrafine BCC nanoprecipitates within EHEAs.
- To achieve a record-low dry wear rate in EHEAs through hierarchical nanostructure engineering.
Main Methods:
- Carbon alloying was used to in situ synthesize nanoscale eutectic carbides.
- Elemental repartitioning was employed to tailor ultrafine BCC nanoprecipitates within the B2 matrix.
- Hierarchical nanostructures were designed for enhanced wear resistance.
Main Results:
- A record-low dry wear rate of 1.15 × 10-5 mm3 N-1 m-1 was achieved in the engineered EHEAs.
- Dispersed M7C3 nanocarbides with strong interfacial bonding suppressed nanocrystallization and activated deformation twinning.
- Spherical BCC nanoprecipitates with near-zero lattice misfit enhanced elastic recovery and prevented crack initiation.
Conclusions:
- The developed hierarchical nanostructures provide a controllable and scalable pathway for nanostructure tailoring in EHEAs.
- This study establishes a blueprint for synergistic dual-phase engineering in next-generation wear-resistant EHEAs.
