High-throughput investigation of grain boundary segregation landscape in the Fe–Ni–Cr system

Abstract

Understanding phase stability in multicomponent alloy systems, particularly at internal interfaces, remains a major challenge in materials science. Grain boundary (co-)segregation is a critical factor influencing interfacial stability, often leading to microstructural degradation and safety concerns. In this study, we investigate segregation behavior in the face-centered cubic (FCC) Fe–Ni–Cr alloy system, a foundational system for many steels, superalloys, and high-entropy alloys. CALPHAD-integrated density-based phase-field model is extended to compute the segregation of Fe, Ni, and Cr at grain boundaries as a function of the bulk composition, with the relative GB density serving as a key parameter representing grain boundary character. A high-throughput computational screening is performed across the stable compositional space at 723 K, 1023 K, and 1323 K. The results reveal a rich and temperature-sensitive segregation landscape, with element-specific enrichment and depletion patterns that vary with alloy composition. Notably, opposite segregation trends between Ni and Cr, and frequent co-segregation of Fe and Ni, are observed at lower temperatures. The developed framework captures the coupled effects of temperature, chemical interactions, grain boundary structure, and enthalpy-entropy compensation on segregation and GB phase stability. The origin and implications of these phenomena are discussed in terms of the underlying thermodynamic driving forces.