Novel co-cu-based immiscible medium-entropy alloys with promising mechanical properties

Abstract

New AlxCo50−xCu50−xMnx (x = 2.5, 10, and 15 atomic %, at%) immiscible medium-entropy alloys (IMMEAs) were designed based on the cobalt-copper binary system. Aluminum, a strong B2 phase former, was added to enhance yield strength and ultimate tensile strength, while manganese was added for additional solid solution strengthening. In this work, the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the designed Al-Co-Cu-Mn system are examined. The alloys exhibit phase separation into dual face-centered cubic (FCC) phases due to the miscibility gap of the cobalt-copper binary system with the formation of CoAl-rich B2 phases. The hard B2 phases significantly contribute to the strength of the alloys, whereas the dual FCC phases contribute to elongation mitigating brittle fracture. Consequently, analysis of the Al-Co-Cu-Mn B2-strengthened IMMEAs suggest that the new alloy design methodology results in a good combination of strength and ductility.